Background & Proposals

Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Briefing Book: Background

A Korea-Japan Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (hereafter KJNWFZ) is a new concept. Once realized, it could help resolve a number of linked and intractable security issues in Northeast Asia at the same time. This includes the need to respond to North Korea’s nuclear breakout without undermining the Global Abolition policy announced by President Obama; the need for Japan and Korea to deepen their non-nuclear commitments to more deeply engrained “forever” status without hedging; and the need for Japan-Korean cooperation to lay the foundations for a comprehensive security mechanism and long-term regional security institution, including through cooperative nuclear fuel cycle and space development activities.

More background information on the KJNWFZ.

Benefits and outcomes of a KJNWFZ.

Requirements for a KJNWFZ.

Publications Reference Materials 

Publications:

A Proposal for a Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone in Northeast Asia
Morton H. Halperin, Nautilus Institute Special Report, 3 January 2012

Is a Nuclear-free East Asia Possible? Opportunities and Constraints
Peter Hayes, Report from the 6th Jeju Forum Panel, May 28, 2011, Nautilus Institute Special Report, 5 July 2011.

Strategy for a Northeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone as a step to “Common Security”
Yuasa Ichiro, President of the Peace Depot, Nautilus Policy Forum, 9 December 2010

Policy Forum Debate: The Status Quo Isn’t Working: A Nuke-Free Zone Is Needed Now
Peter Hayes, Nautilus Institute Policy Forum, 6 October 2010

Policy Forum Debate: A Northeast Asian Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Is Unrealistic
Masashi Nishihara, Nautilus Institute Policy Forum, 5 October 2010

Implementing a Japanese-Korean Nuclear Weapon Free Zone: Precedents, legal forms, governance, scope and domain, verification and compliance, and regional benefit
Michael Hamel-Green, Nautilus Institute Special Report, 28 September 2010

Political Prospects for a NWFZ in Northeast Asia
Leon V. Sigal, Nautilus Institute Special Report, 21 September 2010

The Path Not Taken, The Way Still Open: Denuclearizing The Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia
Peter Hayes and Michael Hamel-Green, The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus 50-1-09, 14 December 2009

Reference Materials:

A Northeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone with a Three Plus Three Arrangement
Umebayashi, H., East Asia Nuclear Security Workshop, Tokyo, Japan (November 2011)

The Politics of A Korea-Japan NWFZ
Sigal, L. V., East Asia Nuclear Security Workshop, Tokyo, Japan (November 2011)

Regions That Say No: Precedents and Precursors for Denuclearizing Northeast Asia
Hamel-Green, M., East Asia Nuclear Security Workshop, Tokyo, Japan (November 2011)

The Role of a NE Asia NWFZ in Eliminating Nuclear Weapons from the Korean Peninsula
Halperin, M. H., East Asia Nuclear Security Workshop, Tokyo, Japan (November 2011)

A Northeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone and the Korean Problem
Graham , T., East Asia Nuclear Security Workshop, Tokyo, Japan (November 2011)

Twenty Key Questions on Nuclear Abolition in East Asia
6th Jeju Forum Panel, May 28, 2011

Prepared remarks for Is a Nuclear-free East Asia Possible? Opportunities and Constraints
Abe, N., 6th Jeju Forum Panel, May 28, 2011

Prepared remarks for Is a Nuclear-free East Asia Possible? Opportunities and Constraints
Pan, Zhenqiang MG (Ret), 6th Jeju Forum Panel, May 28, 2011

Proposal of A Model Northeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty
Hiromichi Umebayashi, Fudan University, Shanghai, PRC July 16 – 18, 2004.

A Model Treaty on the Northeast Asia  Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone
Umebayashi Hiromichi, Peace Depot Working Paper No.1, 2004.