NAPSNet 12 January 2012

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"NAPSNet 12 January 2012", NAPSNet Weekly Report, January 12, 2012, https://nautilus.org/napsnet/napsnet-weekly/napsnet-12-january-2012/

DETERRENCE: Deterring strategic cyberattack, David Elliott, IEEE Security & Privacy, 9:5, pp 36-40 (2011 October) [PDF, 1.6MB]

Elliott asks if “cyber-deterrence” can protect critical infrastructure against external attack. Are lessons from nuclear deterrence applicable? Are cyber and nuclear deterrence linked in practice? He concludes for the most part no, and suggests that unlike the nuclear threat system, strong “cyber defenses” may be most effective.

DPRK: DPRK blasts Lee Myung Bak’s new year address, Korean Central News Agency (5 January 2012)

North Korea rejected ROK President Lee’s offer of improved inter-Korean relations if the DPRK is willing to give up its nuclear program. KCNA called the move an attempt to destroy inter-Korean relations. DPRK language on the ROK has hardened since the death of Kim Jong-Il. The article also called the DPRK a “full-fledged nuclear weapons state,” calling its nuclear program “a revolutionary heritage which can never be bartered for anything.”

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: Cities and climate change: Responding to an urgent agenda, Daniel Hoornweg et al. (editors), Urban Development Series, The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank (2011) [PDF, 5.61 MB]

Cities consume much of the world’s energy, and thus produce much of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Yet cities, to varying extents, are also vulnerable to climate change impacts, with poor populations facing the greatest risk. Thus, adaptation and increased resilience constitute priorities for every city, and cities have a key role to play in mitigating climate change.

ENERGY SECURITY: Night fishing, Tim Gengnagel and Philipp Wolburg, The Lumina Project (31 December 2011)

Kerosene lanterns are used in night fishing activities by fishermen in many places in the developing world. In Tanzania, kerosene use can consume half of a fisherman’s income. Substituting LED lamps powered by batteries that are charged by solar PV panels could have positive economic impacts, as well as reducing CO2 emissions and air and water pollution. Barriers to be addressed include product development for a niche market, and financing.

GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Tokyo and Seoul struggle to quit Iranian oil habit, John M. Gliona, Los Angeles Times (8 January 2012)

Tokyo and Seoul are looking to receive exemptions from US-imposed Iranian oil sanctions, as both countries import up to 10% of their oil supply from Iran. One ROK estimate expects refiners to pay US$41.5 million more per year for crude imports, making refiners weary of the potential embargo. China, which buys 1/5 of all Iranian shipments, is also balking at US pressure to adhere to sanctions beyond the already approved UN sanctions.

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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