5 July 2012
The Nautilus Peace and Security Weekly Report presents articles and full length reports each week in six categories: Austral security, nuclear deterrence, energy security, climate change adaptation, the DPRK, and governance and civil society. Our team of contributors carefully select items that highlight the links between these themes and the three regions in which our offices are found—North America, Northeast Asia, and the Austral-Asia region. Each week, one of our authors also provides a short blog that explores these inter-relationships.
CONTENTS
- DETERRENCE: Proactive deterrence: The challenge of escalation control on the Korean Peninsula
- DPRK: China “won’t tolerate more N. Korean provocations”
- ENERGY SECURITY: The road from Chernobyl
- GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: S. Korea, Japan postpone landmark military pact
- CLIMATE CHANGE AND SECURITY: Data Systems & Solutions pays $8.8 million to settle FCPA violations
See this week’s blog from our Climate Change and Security contributor, Richard Tanter.
DETERRENCE: Proactive deterrence: The challenge of escalation control on the Korean Peninsula, Abraham Denmark, Korea Economic Institute (2 April 2012) [PDF, 1.01 MB]
The ROK’s “proactive deterrence” concept tries to deter attacks not previously the target of deterrence, without changing the structural escalation dynamics that have enabled deterrence against large-scale attacks from the North; and enabled it to conduct small-scale attacks without fear of a general war.
- From defense to deterrence: The core of defense reform plan 307, Rhee Sang-Woo, Center for Strategic and International Studies (7 September 2011) [PDF, 140KB]
- S.Korea to Build 500-600 More Missiles, Chosun Ilbo (22 May 2012)
- The need for strategic weapons capable of striking anywhere in North Korea “New Missile Guidelines” must be revised, Kim Tae-woo, Korean Institute of National Unification (18 May 2012)
DPRK: China “won’t tolerate more N. Korean provocations”, Chosun Ilbo (2 July 2012)
Six months after taking over North Korea, Kim Jong Un demonstrates firm control and often seems defiant of the international community. Partially as a result of the defiance, South Korea and Japan almost signed an unprecedented Japan-South Korea intelligence sharing agreement and China’s Minister of Defense told a retired Korean General, China would not accept North Korean provocations. Russia shows renewed interest in North Korea.
- S. Korea postpones controversial military deal with Japan, RTT News (29 June 2012)
- North Korea tests the patience of its closest ally, Jane Perlez, The New York Times (24 June 2012)
- The Korean Peninsula: gateway to a greater role for Russia in Asia, Gregory Toloraya, Global Asia (June 2012)
ENERGY SECURITY: The road from Chernobyl, Alexander Likhotal, Project Sydnicate (8 June 2012)
A former adviser to Mikhail Gorbachev argues against nuclear bets. Russia goes on to build what would be the largest (1,200 MW) Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) since the French Superphénix was closed pre-maturely 15 years ago. Japan continues its 280 MW Monju Prototype (PFBR) and India also its own ultimate dream machine. The debate over “closing” the nuclear fuel cycle looks surreal as before.
- Large fast reactor approved for Beloyarsk, World Nuclear News (27 June 2012)
- Monju costs far surpass usual nukes, The Japan Times (4 July 2012)
- Bhavini, fast-breeder reactor operator, to raise Rs.1,200 cr, Venkatachari Jagannathan, SME Times (11 June 2012)
- Nuclear fuel cycles: to close or not to close? Jason Deign, Nuclear Energy Insider (13 June 2012)
GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: S. Korea, Japan postpone landmark military pact, Park Chan-Kyong, Agence France Presse (29 June 2012)
The ROK and Japan have postponed signing a military pact after protests from ROK civil groups and both the opposition and ruling parties, who claim that the pact was pushed through behind closed doors and without proper public consultation. The pact would facilitate the sharing of classified military intelligence on the DPRK and China. Opponents argue the pact will increase military tensions in the region and contribute to Japan’s rearmament.
- The story behind the Korea-Japan military pact, Chosun Ilbo (29 June 2012)
- Korea-Japan military agreement being rushed through, Kim Kyu-won and Um Ji-won, Hankyoreh (29 June 2012)
- Military pact with Japan impossible without public support: Ministry, Yonhap News (3 July 2012)
CLIMATE CHANGE AND SECURITY: Data Systems & Solutions pays $8.8 million to settle FCPA violations, Samuel Rubenfeld, Wall Street Journal (18 June 2012)
US company, Data Systems & Solutions (DS&S), agreed to a pay $8.8 million in fines to resolve charges of bribing officials at a Lithuanian nuclear power plant to obtain orders. DS&S executives paid substantial bribes in return for influence in awarding contracts to a range of officials at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.
- Another nuke scandal: theft and bribery, Jaeyeon Woo, Wall Street Journal (27 April 2012)
- Taiwan govt seeks to impeach current, former power officials, Camaron Kao, China Post (13 June 2012)
- Global corruption report: Climate change, Transparency International (2011)
Check out this week’s Climate Change and Security blog: Nuclear corruption 2012 to date
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Editor
Contributors
- Deterrence: Peter Hayes
- Governance and Civil Society: Yi Kiho, Dyana Mardon
- Climate Change Adaptation: Saleem Janjua
- DPRK: Roger Cavazos
- Energy Security: Nikhil Desai
- Climate Change and Security: Richard Tanter