Title: The Top UN Nuclear Official Optimistic About North Korea, Iran
Summary: The head of the UN nuclear agency says that the problems can be solved through six party meetings and not confrontation. The six party talks which include China, Russia, America, North Korea, South Korea and Japan are thought to be the best way to fix the issue. The Official’s optimism is based on the fact that the U.S. and Russia said that they will reduce their weapon cache sizes. He also said that talking is prevailing over fighting in the back rooms. The U.N. also said that the new policies were going to be towards Iran too.
Reflection: After reading this I felt a little bit better to be honest. It was nice to hear someone who actually saw a bright future for this whole situation. Plus it wasn’t just some joe shmoe reporter, it was the top U.N. nuclear official. This could be a new bright future in this seemingly gloomy and scary state of affairs.
Evidence
• "The United States is reaching out, stretching its hand to Iran,"
• The head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog agency says that he sees a bright future
• North Korea kicked out the inspectors and stopped going to the six party meetings set up by the U.N.
Questions: Will North Korea and Iran finally comply with the UN guidelines? Is the official’s optimism based on feelings or facts? Will the disputes end with speaking or shooting?
Citation: all info found at http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2009-04-20-voa11-68784877.html
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Blog Entry #9
Title: U.S. wants new UN sanctions against Iran’s “continuing” nuclear ambitions
Summary: President Barrack Obama made a speech on January 3rd about Iran’s nuclear program. He stated that the United States government had come to the conclusion that Iran was seeking nuclear weapons technology. Obama said that if Iran wanted to be allowed to pursue nuclear technology, they would need to prove that they were not making weapons. The U.S. government decided to ignore their spy reports that said the pursuit was over. Iran is currently in possession of almost enough uranium to make a bomb if it were further purified.
Reflection: This press conference held by President Obama was relieving and unsettling. It was relieving in the sense that the U.S. is going to further, try to stop Iran’s weapon’s production. But it is unsettling because the government came to this decision by disregarding their official intelligence report. The intelligence report said, in short, that Iran was no longer pursuing weapons. I suppose the report is also relieving.
Evidence:
• U.S. intelligence reports suggest that Iran’s nuclear pursuit has stopped
• The U.S. government concluded that the report was wrong
• Most of the info may have come from Iranian scientists who defected to the West
Questions: Why did the government decide to ignore their official intelligence report? Is the report even accurate? Did Iranian even scientists defect to the West? If not, where did they go?
Citation: all info found at
Summary: President Barrack Obama made a speech on January 3rd about Iran’s nuclear program. He stated that the United States government had come to the conclusion that Iran was seeking nuclear weapons technology. Obama said that if Iran wanted to be allowed to pursue nuclear technology, they would need to prove that they were not making weapons. The U.S. government decided to ignore their spy reports that said the pursuit was over. Iran is currently in possession of almost enough uranium to make a bomb if it were further purified.
Reflection: This press conference held by President Obama was relieving and unsettling. It was relieving in the sense that the U.S. is going to further, try to stop Iran’s weapon’s production. But it is unsettling because the government came to this decision by disregarding their official intelligence report. The intelligence report said, in short, that Iran was no longer pursuing weapons. I suppose the report is also relieving.
Evidence:
• U.S. intelligence reports suggest that Iran’s nuclear pursuit has stopped
• The U.S. government concluded that the report was wrong
• Most of the info may have come from Iranian scientists who defected to the West
Questions: Why did the government decide to ignore their official intelligence report? Is the report even accurate? Did Iranian even scientists defect to the West? If not, where did they go?
Citation: all info found at
Blog Entry #8
Title: Iran missile experts in North Korea "to help with rocket launch"
Summary: Rocket scientists from Iran were reportedly in North Korea helping with missile tests. The U.N. deemed these actions as illegal. The U.N. security council warned North Korea that these actions would be in violation of the preset agreements made between the two parties. Almost immediately after hearing about the test, Japan deployed their air force and naval forces just off the coast of North Korea. They were all armed with missile defense weapons and were ready for battle.
Reflection: It is becoming increasingly apparent that North Korea doesn't crap about what the U.N. thinks. They consistently disregard the U.N. sanction that they promise, legally, to follow. In my semi-professional opinion, North Korea will not stop their pursuit of nuclear weapons. Oh and Iran sent some scientists over to help them. COME ON!
Evidence:
Questions:Why did Iran agree to send over some of their scientists to North Korea? Are the two truly helping each other. If Iran is trying to seem diplomatic about their methods then why are they helping the North Koreans, again
Citation: all info found at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5994905.ece
Summary: Rocket scientists from Iran were reportedly in North Korea helping with missile tests. The U.N. deemed these actions as illegal. The U.N. security council warned North Korea that these actions would be in violation of the preset agreements made between the two parties. Almost immediately after hearing about the test, Japan deployed their air force and naval forces just off the coast of North Korea. They were all armed with missile defense weapons and were ready for battle.
Reflection: It is becoming increasingly apparent that North Korea doesn't crap about what the U.N. thinks. They consistently disregard the U.N. sanction that they promise, legally, to follow. In my semi-professional opinion, North Korea will not stop their pursuit of nuclear weapons. Oh and Iran sent some scientists over to help them. COME ON!
Evidence:
- Japanese units carrying Patriot Advanced Capability - 3 missiles were seen leaving japan to North Korea
- Pyongyang made a statement saying that they would launch a satellite over japan but many experts concluded that it was a missile capable of reaching North America
- Tokyo gave its military the go ahead to shoot down any North Korean missiles.
- Japanese media agencies claimed that spy satellite photos were taken of the nose cone of a long range missile in North Korea.
Questions:Why did Iran agree to send over some of their scientists to North Korea? Are the two truly helping each other. If Iran is trying to seem diplomatic about their methods then why are they helping the North Koreans, again
Citation: all info found at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5994905.ece
Blog Entry #7
Title: US slaps sanctions on Iran firm
Summary: The U.S. treasury is saying that they discovered millions of dollars transferred form an Iranian firm to an organization directly associated with N.K.'s pyongyang, which is their nuclear production company, if you will. The assets of the company are going to be frozen and will be put under further inspection by the U.S. and other country's intelligence agencies. Obama described the company as North Korea's "premier arms dealer". This resulted in the extension of sanctions hat were put on North Korea in May.
Reflection: to be honest this is getting kinda frustrating. North korea just doesn't seem to get it. We can figure out just about anything that they do in a matter of time. Honestly, I have never heard of a country or leader of a country that was so thick in the head.
Evidence:
Citation: all info was found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8127639.stm
Summary: The U.S. treasury is saying that they discovered millions of dollars transferred form an Iranian firm to an organization directly associated with N.K.'s pyongyang, which is their nuclear production company, if you will. The assets of the company are going to be frozen and will be put under further inspection by the U.S. and other country's intelligence agencies. Obama described the company as North Korea's "premier arms dealer". This resulted in the extension of sanctions hat were put on North Korea in May.
Reflection: to be honest this is getting kinda frustrating. North korea just doesn't seem to get it. We can figure out just about anything that they do in a matter of time. Honestly, I have never heard of a country or leader of a country that was so thick in the head.
Evidence:
- The U.S. treasury uncovered many transaction between the North Korean and Iranian Companies.
- "The UN has extended sanctions against North Korea"
- "The US Treasury describes Komid as North Korea's "premier arms dealer"" Komid is the company that made the transactions to North Korea.
- Millions of dollars have been wired to the North Korean companies since 2007
Citation: all info was found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8127639.stm
Blog Entry #6
Title: Obama Takes Stern Tone With North Korea and Iran
Summary: On Obama's trip to Asia he stopped in North Korea to speak with the North Korean president about his nuclear weapons program. When Obama spoke, he took a very "stern tone" and told N.K. that they would need to disband their programs to be back in the U.N. Obama also spoke about/to Iran about their failure to respond to the proposal given to they by the U.N. The North Korean president acknowledged the pattern that has been cycling between N.K. and the U.N. First North Korea does something provocative or shady .Then they go to the U.N. meetings .They then talk and then they leave the talks and continues their programs. North Korea acknowledged their disregard and then promised to change, again.
Reflection: It came as no surprise that North Korea said they would change their derelict ways. This is roughly the tenth time they have promised to do so. Obama also spoke about Iran's continued non compliance/ignorance of the U.N.'s proposal to take their plutonium and make them into rods for fuel. At this point I am very doubtful that North Korea or Iran will change their methods.
Evidence:
Citation: all info found at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/world/asia/19prexy.html
Summary: On Obama's trip to Asia he stopped in North Korea to speak with the North Korean president about his nuclear weapons program. When Obama spoke, he took a very "stern tone" and told N.K. that they would need to disband their programs to be back in the U.N. Obama also spoke about/to Iran about their failure to respond to the proposal given to they by the U.N. The North Korean president acknowledged the pattern that has been cycling between N.K. and the U.N. First North Korea does something provocative or shady .Then they go to the U.N. meetings .They then talk and then they leave the talks and continues their programs. North Korea acknowledged their disregard and then promised to change, again.
Reflection: It came as no surprise that North Korea said they would change their derelict ways. This is roughly the tenth time they have promised to do so. Obama also spoke about Iran's continued non compliance/ignorance of the U.N.'s proposal to take their plutonium and make them into rods for fuel. At this point I am very doubtful that North Korea or Iran will change their methods.
Evidence:
- Obama had a press conference in North Korea
- North Korea acknowledged their mistakes and promised to change
- Obama quite plainly told them that it would be difficult for them to get back to the table with the U.N.
- North Korea's president has been criticized for sending a small number of troops to Afghanistan to help the Americans there
Citation: all info found at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/world/asia/19prexy.html
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Blog Entry #5
Title: What an "engagement" with North Korea and Iran would mean
Citation: all info was found at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/world/17sanger.html?_r=1
Summary: President Barrack Obama has been dealing with N.K. and Iran since he was voted into office. The two countries have been described as "polar opposites unified only by a desire for nuclear weapons". North korea is taking a very defensive approach in the development of their weapons and are in a sense introverting to take care of themselves and regroup. Iran on the other hand is taking a very diplomatic and open approach to their development. The UN is has said that their approach to north korea will probably be a strong-arm type method and are going to essentially freeze north korea out and stop their food exports to north korea. Though on the Iranian side they will probably be much more diplomatic about their efforts.
Reflection: All of these facts are nothing short of down right scary to be honest. They are going to try to stiff arm a country that is practically collapsing. Honestly, you don't give the tough love treatment to someone with schizophrenia. Everyone knows they will freak out, duh. On the side of Iran I was just kinda surprised. I had no idea that Iran was the one that was going to be civil about their program.
Evidence:
- North Korea has introverted to prepare themselves and "regroup" for something
- Iran is taking a very diplomatic approach to their weapons program
- North Korea has shut out the rest of the world in order to collect themselves
Citation: all info was found at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/world/17sanger.html?_r=1
Monday, February 1, 2010
Blog Entry #4
Title:Iran and North Korea Secrecy Over Nuclear Production
Summary: North Korea was caught shipping weapons to Iran in December of last year. The weapons were taken by the UAE and were held for United Nations Security Council. There was no nuclear related material in the shipment but there were a bunch of weapons that have been seen very regularly seen being used by al queida and various other terrorist cells. The fact that North Korea is supporting one of the only other renegade nuclear producers who has been known to fund terrorists and wants to commit a jewish genocide is a fact that scares many people.
Reflection: After doing this research and realizing that all of this has been going on for my entire life I feel sorely misinformed. I always had the idea that the world was doing all right but now I see that it is very different. Living a life of ignorance was bliss but now I feel sort of short-changed. I almost feel lied to. With North Korea funding the other unstable nuclear country many people are getting kind of scared.
Evidence: In December of 2009 a plane was seized while refueling and 35 tons of weapons were discovered on board. The next stop on the plane's fight plan was Iran. The ship used to transport the weapons was Australian, controlled by some French and registered in the Bahamas and sources say that the shipment was approved by the Shanghai office of an Italian company. It is widely believed that North Korea makes millions of dollars by selling weapons to middle eastern countries.
Questions: Why is north korea sending weapons to/through Iran? Why did they use so many back-door sneaky ways of getting the plane and the cargo around?
Sites: All information can be found at -
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