DPRK

The Tedious U.S.-North Korean Nuclear Wrangle
North Korea has agreed to a nuclear and missile moratorium and to allow IAEA inspectors back into the country, the U.S. State Department triumphantly announced following talks with North Korea. But this is just the latest episode in this endless and tedious soap opera.
Washington traditionally resumes its dance with Pyongyang in the run-up to presidential elections, swapping humanitarian aid for North Korea pledge to suspend its nuclear program. As before, Pyongyang has not agreed to destroy its nuclear arsenal.
The talks held in Beijing, China, on February 23-24 culminated in an agreement to provide 240,000 metric tons of food to North Korea in return for a moratorium on nuclear tests and missile launches.
North Korea, which held underground nuclear explosions in 2006 and 2009, has not performed any nuclear testing or launched a long-range missile for the past three years. Why debate the issue then?
The answer lies in the history of the U.S.-North Korea relationship.

Russia Welcomes N.Korea Nuclear Test Moratorium

North Korea Agrees to Nuclear Moratorium

Lavrov: No Signs of Instability in N. Korea

Seoul hopes for reduction in tensions between Koreas

Do not expect us to change, North Korea tells world

North Korea idle war machine
North Korea has surpassed itself in building its nuclear missile shield as compared with its outstanding military industrial achievements.
North Korea is a nuclear power, albeit a young one. It became one almost against its will; Pyongyang was backed into a corner. It is hard to say whether North Korea has managed to create delivery vehicles for its nuclear devices (tested in 2006 and 2009 and, probably, even in 2004), or simply put, whether it possesses ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads – the most dangerous form of nuclear weapon.
North Korea has missiles and, despite strict international expert controls, has even disseminated illegal missile technology to Iran and possibly Pakistan.
These missiles are not yet up to the mark but perform better and better with each passing year. As distinct from Tehran, which is far removed from its enemies, Pyongyang enemies are close by: South Korea is its next door neighbor and another possible target, Japan, is not far away, either.
This dilapidated scientific, technical and production pyramid built on the foundation of a backward economy serves only one goal.

U.S., Russia share interest for peace and stability on Korean peninsula

Clinton to discuss N.Korea situation with counterparts

Russian, S.Korean leaders to discuss cooperation, N.Korea nuclear problem

N.Korea says ready for six-party talks without preliminary conditions

US, North Korea start nuclear talks in Geneva

S.Korea on high alert after suspicious military deployment by North

DPRK condemns S.Korea dangerous policies

Koreas fail again to agree terms for nuclear talks restart

Koreas in bid to restart six nation nuclear talks

North, South Korea to discuss nuclear program next week

Talks on North Korea nuclear program: Opportunity and obstacle

South, North Korean FMs meet for first time in 3 years

North, South Korea agree to resume six-party talks

Moscow hails N.Korea readiness to resume six-party talks

Kim Jong-il to visit Russia

N. Korea says no more deals with South Lee Myung-bak

N. Korea will never give up its nuclear ambitions - U.S. general

China opposes preconditions for N.Korea nuclear talks

North Korea tunnel digging sparks speculation of nuke test - agency

N.Korea says no more talks with South

N.Korea will not drop nuclear program - Kim Jong-il son

North Korea to allow UN nuclear inspections

China: Korean six-party talks to help avoid new conflict

IAEA awaiting deal to send nuclear inspectors back to N.Korea

Russia, North Korean at odds over nuclear potential

Russia concerned over North Korean nukes

Seoul to consider carefully China call for emergency talk on North Korea

China urges resumption of talks on North Korean nuclear program

North Korea uranium program developments not a crisis - U.S. envoy

North Korea may conduct new nuke test explosion

N. Korea starts building light-water reactor - report

North Korea in favor of denuclearization of Korean Peninsula

China reiterates call for resumption of N. Korea nuclear talks

Chinese leader invites N.Korean counterpart to visit Beijing

North Korea to strengthen nuclear deterrent

Russia, South Korea to discuss Cheonan issue Thursday

Situation on Korean Peninsula explosive - Lavrov

North Korea boasts success in nuclear fusion research

North Korea says no plans to abandon nuclear weapons

North Korea sees U.S. trust as solution to nuclear issues

N. Korea vows nuclear response over attempts to destabilize regime

North Korea's nuclear negotiator to visit U.S. in March

N.Korea not ready to resume nuclear talks - Russian senator

China welcomes future U.S.-N.Korea nuclear talks

Hero of the day

The ISTC Responsible Science Program and Subprogram Culture of Nuclear Nonproliferation

The dual-use nature of nuclear technology consisting in the potential for its application equally in peaceful and military sphere is the basic contradiction for the existing nuclear nonproliferation regime and comprehensive development of the nuclear power and nuclear fuel cycle.

INTERVIEW

Jerry Hopwood
We are currently working with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) on this approach, which was submitted in response to their February 2012 call for alternative proposals. We appreciate that the UK is in the early stages of their policy development activities and are pleased to be involved in such important work.

OPINION

Joint Plan of Action
The goal for these negotiations is to reach a mutually-agreed long-term comprehensive solution that would ensure Iran's nuclear programme will be exclusively peaceful. Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek or develop any nuclear weapons.