NAPSNet 1 March 2012

Recommended Citation

"NAPSNet 1 March 2012", NAPSNet Weekly Report, March 01, 2012, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-weekly/napsnet-1-march-2012/

DETERRENCE: A Northeast Asian nuclear weapon free zone and the Korean problem, Thomas Graham, NAPSNet Special Report (28 February 2012)

Graham assesses how a Northeast Asian nuclear weapons free zone could lessen North Korea’s nuclear threat. Such a zone “could be a large step forward for peace. All avenues toward this laudable but seemingly very distant objective should be examined. The Treaty of Tlatelolco is a possible model that could be considered.”

DPRK: North Korea agrees to curb nuclear work; U.S. offers aid, Steven Lee Myers and Choe Sang-Hun, The New York Times (29 February 2011)

North Korea declared a moratorium on “nuclear tests, long-range missile launches, and uranium enrichment activity” and agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to monitor the Yongbyon facility. The US pledged to give North Korea 240,000 tons of food aid. The US government called the progress “important, if limited.” North Korea called for a resumption of the six party talks with a priority on lifting sanctions and the provision of Light Water Reactors.

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: The role of regulation in facilitating or constraining adaptation to climate change for Australian infrastructure, Report for the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Canberra, Australia (2012) [PDF, 1.36 MB]

The challenge that climate change presents for Australia’s infrastructure and associated services cannot be overstated. There is a risk that existing regulatory frameworks might ‘lock in’ maladaptive action, which could compromise the short, medium and long-term resilience of Australian infrastructure. A new approach is needed to ensure that effective responses to climate change are embedded in relevant regulatory frameworks.

ENERGY SECURITY: Roundtable: Japan’s energy security, outlook and implications, National Bureau of Asian Research (25 January 2012) [PDF, 6.68 MB]

This summary of a discussion by Mikkal Herberg, Edward Lincoln, and Michael Wallace identifies key impacts of possible shifts in Japan’s energy policies. How, for example, do Japan and the US maintain strong voices in nuclear safety/security while other nations lead nuclear power development? Will Japan’s need for replacement power force it to compete with China for LNG supplies? Will behavioral changes yield lasting energy efficiency savings?

GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: MB pushes through Jeju naval base, Ser Myo-ja, Joongang Ilbo (1 March 2012)

Seoul is pushing forward with construction on a Jeju Island naval base despite ongoing protests and disagreements between government and local groups regarding the base’s environmental and civilian impact. Critics argue it will lead to increased US military presence and militarization of the region.  Similar objections face the US marine base relocation in Okinawa, with the Okinawa governor disputing Tokyo’s environmental impact report’s findings.

Note: We regret that the Austral Security section is not included in this week’s NAPSNet report and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Subscribe to NAPSNet to receive free weekly email reports

Editor

Contributors