NAPSNet 11 August 2011
- DETERRENCE: S.Korea, U.S. to practice destroying N.Korean WMDs
- DPRK: U.S. asks about recovering remains
- ENERGY SECURITY: Future fission: Why Japan won’t abandon nuclear power
- CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: When not every response to climate change is a good one
- GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Japan renews Dokdo claim after lawmakers expelled
- AUSTRAL SECURITY: Military urged to defend Antarctic territory
DETERRENCE: S.Korea, U.S. to practice destroying N.Korean WMDs, Chosun Ilbo (8 August 2011)
350 counter-WMD troops from the ROK and the U.S. Army 20th Support Command are scheduled August 16-29 to practice locating and destroying North Korean weapons of mass destruction during exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian. The DPRK military protested against “nuclear war maneuvers” and called for their cancellation to help denuclearize Korea and end the Korean war.
- Ulchi-focus lens, Global Security (5 July 2011)
- U.S. speeds attack plans for North Korea, Washington Times (3 November 2006)
- Pak generals afraid US may now raid nukes, Times of India (4 May 2011)
DPRK: U.S. asks about recovering remains, Joong-Ang Ilbo (8 August 2011)
The US military has proposed talks with the North Korean People’s Army on resuming MIA-POW joint recovery operations. The US Department of Defense made the proposal this week after a recommendation from the North Korea. Joint Recovery options were suspended by the US in 2005. Joint Recovery Operations build confidence in US-DPRK relations as the DPRK believes that the US will not attack North Korea if there are American field teams inside the country.
- MIA joint recovery, Nautilus Institute (27 January 2003) [PPT, 6.8MB]
- U.S. rebuffs North Korean overture on U.S. MIA remains, Reuters (28 January 2010)
- Lost Korean war battalion awaits US MIA decision, Associated Press (18 July 2010)
ENERGY SECURITY: Future fission: Why Japan won’t abandon nuclear power, Global Asia (June 2011)
Daniel P. Aldrich explores the impact of the “amakudari” culture of entrenched relationships between Japan’s nuclear industry and its regulators on establishment and enforcement of regulations for the industry. Despite current public outcry, the government’s forty-plus years of institutional support for nuclear energy means that a significant long-term change in Japan’s nuclear-focused energy plans is highly unlikely.
- NGO reports Japan can combat global warming without nuclear power, Japan for Sustainability (4 August 2011)
- Study of potential for the introduction of renewable energy (FY 2010), Ministry of Environment Japan (April 2011) [PDF, 927KB]
- Japan held nuclear data, leaving evacuees in peril, NYT (8 August 2011)
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: When not every response to climate change is a good one: Identifying principles for sustainable adaptation, Climate and Development (1 January 2011) [PDF, 258.9KB]
Siri Eriksen et al. outline four principles that can guide adaptation responses in a manner that support sustainability. Sustainable adaptation should (1) recognize the context of vulnerability, including multiple stressors, (2) acknowledge that different values and interests affect adaptation outcomes, (3) integrate local knowledge into adaptation responses and (4) consider potential feedbacks between local and global processes.
- Vulnerability, poverty and the need for sustainable adaptation measures, Climate Policy (1 January 2007) [subscription required]
- Human security in a changing environment, United Nations University (November 2004) [PDF, 677 KB]
GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Japan renews Dokdo claim after lawmakers expelled, Joong Ang Daily (3 Aug 2011)
Japan’s 2011 Defense White Papers have renewed territorial conflicts with China and South Korea over territory in the South China Sea and the Dokdo Islets, respectively. South Korea and China both strongly opposed Japan’s claims, with China calling them “irresponsible.” Further, as Japan prepares to adopt new middle school textbooks next year, many fear that Japanese history will be portrayed in an overly nationalistic light.
- Japan under fire for ‘China threat theory’, China Daily (5 Aug 2011)
- Yokohama eyes wider use of nationalistic history text, Japan Times (5 Aug 2011)
AUSTRAL SECURITY: Military urged to defend Antarctic territory, Age (8 August 2011)
As the competition for Antarctic energy resources heats up, Australia is urged to defend its claim to Antarctic territory in future military planning. The following reports and articles examine Australia’s Antarctic territory policy, and the potential resource conflict in the region.
- Antarctica: assessing and protecting Australia’s national interests, Lowy (August 2011
- Poles apart: Australia’s policy in Antarctica, Conversation (19 July 2011)
- China’s rise in Antarctica, Asia Survey (July/August 2010) [subscription required]
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Editors
- Arabella Imhoff & Mihiri Weerasinghe
Contributors
- Deterrence: Peter Hayes
- Governance and Civil Society: Yi Kiho
- Climate Change Adaptation: Saleem Janjua
- DPRK: Scott Bruce
- Energy Security: David von Hippel
- Austral Security: Arabella Imhoff, Mihiri Weerasinghe