NAPSNet 29 December 2011

• DETERRENCE: Russia test-fires two new nuclear missiles
• DPRK: Nothing succeeds like succession: Chinese language perspectives on Kim Jong-Un’s transition to power
• CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: Local adaptation for livelihood resilience in Albay, Philippines
• ENERGY SECURITY: Japan’s nuclear village wages war on renewable energy and the feed-in tariff
• GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Japan, China focus on North Korea

DETERRENCE: Russia test-fires two new nuclear missiles, Reuters (23 December 2011)

Russia successfully tested its two new Bulava intercontinental missiles, which experienced several failures in the past, from a submerged submarine in the Arctic White Sea and hit the target, a designated polygon, on Kamchatka peninsula.  Bulava packs 6-10 re-entry vehicles.

• Russia to develop heavy ICBM to evade U.S. missile interceptors, Global Security Newswire (16 December 2011)
• Lights out for the airborne laser, Amy Butler, Aviation Week (21 December 2011)
• Missile defense system hits 2 targets over Hawaii, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Associated Press (5 October 2011)

DPRK: Nothing succeeds like succession: Chinese language perspectives on Kim Jong-Un’s transition to power, Roger Cavanos, The Nautilus Institute (23 December 2011)

Roger Cavanos, a Nautilus Institute Associate, assesses the Chinese media’s response to Kim Jong-Il’s death. His conclusion was that this interaction was scripted some time ago in planning for KJI’s eventual death, it emphasizes stability and an controlled transition to Kim Jong-Un, and that the primary concerns in China involve provocation from the ROK and US, not the control of fissile material or nuclear weapons in North Korea.

• The party as the kingmaker: The death of Kim Jong Il and its consequences for North Korea, Rudiger Frank, The Nautilus Institute (22 December 2011)
• Kim Jong Il’s death suggests continuity plus opportunity to engage, Peter Hayes, Scott Bruce, and David von Hippel, The Nautilus Institute (19 December 2011)
• North Korea’s uncertain succession, Interview with Scott Snyder, The Council on Foreign Relations (19 December 2011)

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: Local adaptation for livelihood resilience in Albay, Philippines, Noralene Uy, Yukiko Takeuchi and Rajib Shaw, Environmental Hazards: Human and Policy Dimensions, Vol. 10, pp. 139-153 (2011) [PDF, 459 KB]

Looking at livelihoods from SLA (sustainable livelihoods approach) lens is effective as a means of assessing climate change adaptation capacity because it is able to (i) reveal local vulnerabilities, (ii) build an understanding of macro- and micro-level enabling conditions for climate change adaptation, and (iii) identify locally relevant resilience-building options.

• Local initiatives and adaptation to climate change, Ana V. Rojas Blanco, Disasters, Vol. 30, Issue 1, pp. 140-147 (2006) [subscription required]
• Adapting to climate change: How local experiences can shape the debate, Douma, A. and Hirsch, D., Both Ends, Amsterdam (2007)

ENERGY SECURITY: Japan’s nuclear village wages war on renewable energy and the feed-in tariff, Andrew DeWit, NAPSNet Policy Forum (14 December 2011)

The Fukushima accident in March of 2011 started a cascade of changes to Japanese energy policy, including increased interest in renewable energy.  A legislative bill passed 8/26 changes jurisdiction over an expanded “feed-in tariff” from nuclear industry-linked-METI to a nominally independent commission.  A political battle has erupted between nuclear and renewable power advocates regarding the background of nominees to serve on the commission.

• ‘Networking for Prevention of Blackouts’ announcing emergency level of power shortage proves effective for household electricity saving, Japan for Sustainability (14 December 2011)
• In China, power in nascent electric car industry, Keith Bradsher, New York Times (26 December 2011)
• In Australia’s new carbon tax, a host of missed opportunities, Richard Denniss, Yale Environment 360 (12 Dec 2011)

GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Japan, China focus on North Korea, Toko Sekiguchi, The Wall Street Journal (26 December 2011)

Japanese Prime Minister Noda and PRC President Hu Jintao emphasized the need for stability and denuclearization on the Korean peninsula following the death of Kim Jong-il and discussed further trilateral economic cooperation between the two states and the ROK. Separately, the ROK and PRC pledged stronger bilateral cooperation to maintain stability in the region; meanwhile, the DPRK has requested that the ROK uphold previous economic agreements.

• Talks with China on stability, Moon Gwang-lip, Joongang Daily (28 December 2011)
• North Korea asks South to restore deal to spur investment, Choe Sang-hun, New York Times (27 December 2011)

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.