Free Republic

Iran's military has postponed a test firing of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile after a shipment of parts from North Korea was delayed, Japan's Kyodo news service reported Dec. 6. The report quoted a western diplomatic source in South Korea familiar with North Korean issues as saying that Tehran told Pyongyang that it needs electronic components for improving the missile's accuracy that were ordered from North Korea. The delay in delivering the parts is a source of friction between the two countries, the source said. According to the report, North Korea has said it shipped the components in 10 containers...

Dozens of Britain’s nuclear warheads will be scrapped under plans to replace Trident. Tony Blair is expected to announce the move when the Government unveils a white paper on the UK’s nuclear deterrent on Monday. The reduction will be seen as an attempt to win over Labour MPs opposed to spending up to £20 billion on a new nuclear weapons system. Labour reduced the number of warheads to below 200 when it came to power in 1997 and the latest cut is expected to be significant, in the dozens, but not halving the stockpile. However, Labour backbenchers are predicting up...