Deterrence

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF-T) Treaty eliminated entire classes of US and FSU nuclear missiles. INF-T should be broadened and converted into a global prohibition on ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with 500-5500 km range.

DPRK

North Korea is significantly isolated and has only limited incentives to follow the rules; North Korea’s behavior increased policy deconfliction and even created nascent cooperation between the U.S, South Korea and China. An avian influenza outbreak has the potential to cut trade flows more thoroughly than any sanction and will raise the price of trade. North Korea de-politicized a hostage crisis by using an academic to say that an American held hostage was seeking amnesty.

Energy Security

What is one to do with professors’ professing and prophecies? Is the sky not falling, or will it still remain sky high? Some say “The incredible list of supposed horrors that increasing carbon dioxide will bring the world is pure belief disguised as science.” Or are the sheep are racing toward the wolf? Some say reaching the 400 ppm daily average of carbon in the atmosphere “feels like we’re moving into another era.” And another, ““I feel like the time to do something was yesterday.” NYT reporter condemns us all: “Virtually every automobile ride, every plane trip and, in most places, every flip of a light switch adds carbon dioxide to the air...” As if the sheep are running to the wolf.

Governance and Civil Society

ROK President Park addressed a joint session of the US Congress during her first visit to the US, stressing the importance of the US-ROK alliance and her commitment to deal strongly with the DPRK. Park’s “trustpolitik” approach to the DPRK appears to have been favorably received by the US. ROK-Japan relations, however, remain troubled, as issues of history continue to be a sticking point between the two countries.

Climate Change Adaptation

Disaster risk can be significantly reduced through strategies that seek to decrease vulnerability and exposure to hazards within wider efforts to address poverty and inequality. Humanitarian responses to disasters and other crises can be designed and implemented in ways that protect the affected people’s right to life and other basic rights in the short and longer term.

Austral Peace and Security

The guided-missile frigate HMAS Sydney is about to join the US Seventh Fleet in Japan at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula and in the South China Sea. The warship will be “embedded” with a US aircraft carrier strike group operating out of Yokosuka. The deployment comes as the Gillard government is working to manage Australia's relationships with China and the US. “Australia has made it clear we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Republic of Korea, also with Japan.”