NAPSNet 09 February 2012

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DETERRENCE: Asia’s complex strategic environment: Nuclear multipolarity and other dangers, Chris Twomey, Asia Policy, pp 51-78 (January 2011) [subscription required, PDF, 0.3 MB]

Asia is a multipolar nuclear environment. Long-range nuclear weapons are joined by other systems with strategic effect. Countries hold different views about the role and utility of nuclear weapons. This complexity implies instability combined with completion and conflict, and increased chance of nuclear detonation.

  • AirSea battle, Richard Halloran, airforce-magazine.com, 93:8 (August 2010)
  • Nuclear abolition and the next arms race, Henry Sokolski, in Taylor Bolz, editor, In the Eyes of the Experts, Analysis and Comments on America’s Strategic Posture, Selected Contributions by the Experts of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States, United States Institute Of Peace Press, Washington DC, pp. 207-8 (2009) [PDF, 1.4 MB]
  • How many variables can humans process?, Graeme Halford et al, Pyschological Science, 16: 1, pp. 70-76 (2005) [PDF, 0.2 MB]

DPRK: Recovery mission to begin this spring in North Korea, Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service (27 January 2012)

US POW/MIA joints recovery operations in the DPRK will resume this spring. The joint recovery operations have been suspended since 2005. The operation is an important confidence building measure, as the North believes that the US will not attack North Korea while there are US field teams inside the DPRK. In January, North Korea called nuclear program.

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: Drought risk reduction through a socioeconomic, institutional and physical approach in the northwestern region of Bangladesh, Umma Habiba, Rajib Shaw and Yukiko Takeuchi, Environmental Hazards: Human and Policy Dimensions, vol. 10, pp. 121-138 (2011) [PDF, 544 KB]

SIP (socio-economic, institutional and physical) approach can be used as a rapid planning tool to minimize drought impacts at the micro-level. Umma Habiba et al. measure the existing level of drought resilience with indicators related to SIP conditions in two of the most drought-prone districts of Bangladesh, namely Rajshahi and Chapai-Nawabganj.

ENERGY SECURITY: America’s nuclear future: Does the public have a fair say in it?, Seth P. Tuler, Eugene A. Rosa, and Thomas Webler, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist (31 January 2012)

The two-year Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future was tasked with developing policies for managing spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste.  Though it was more public and participatory than previous efforts, it “provided limited opportunities for public input, influence, and involvement.”  Future decision-making processes for managing nuclear materials “need to be more transparent, inclusive, and respectful of public participation.”

GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: N. Korean business zones to be included in FTA with China, Chosun Ilbo (3 February 2012)

The ROK plans to include DPRK economic zones in talks regarding a potential free trade agreement with China, amid fears of increasing Chinese economic influence over the DPRK. Including DPRK zones will increase economic cooperation between the three states and improve inter-Korean relations, according to ROK officials. Some civil society members hope that a ROK-China FTA will result in China placing less importance on its alliance with the DPRK.

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.

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