Blog

 
Several years ago, Iran admitted having a uranium enrichment plant. The U.S. and other countries suspected this plant wasn’t the only one. After some digging, the U.S. found evidence of construction of a second site.

Today, the United Nations’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censured Iran for secretly building its second nuclear facility near Qom, an Islamic holy city. (Source) The IAEA monitors the first nuclear site. True to its roguish reputation, Iran said on Sunday it would build 10 more such facilities as a result of the censure. Russia, which refused to issue tougher sanctions against Iran, backed the censure.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, said his country will “confront the resolution legally.”

Iranian nuclear official Ali Akbar Salehi said, “We had no intention of building many facilities like the Natanz site. But apparently the West doesn’t want to understand Iran’s peaceful message.” (Source) Iran is maintaining the “peaceful” and “scientific purposes” stance, yet the country threatens to build more nuclear facilities.

Although the former Soviet Union backed the censure, presumably out of concern, it will assist Iran in developing its first nuclear power station as planned. Mehmanparast said, “Our plan is still being pursued, we must be on our own and provide our fuel ourselves.”

A South Korean newspaper (via the AFP) reports that North Korea has conducted an engine ignition test for a missile that might be capable of hitting U.S. shores. The engine may be for the Taepodong-2 missile.

North Korea tested nukes in October 2006. Last year, North Korea claimed it halted preparations for its main nuclear facility, which the International Atomic Energy Agency later confirmed after an inspection.

In other news, South Korea has begun deploying Advanced Patriot missile defense systems from Germany to South Korean Air Force bases, reports The Korea Times. The move is believed to be in response to North Korea’s missile threat. The defiant country may have deployed over 600 Scud missiles and 200 Rodong missiles capable of reaching Japan.

South Korea has plans to build a missile defense shield called Korean air and missile defense, which it hopes will protect against low-flying and short- and medium-range missiles coming from North Korea. The shield may be completed by 2012.

(Sources: AFP and The Korea Times)