CONTENTS
- DETERRENCE: US Ex-Im Bank backs $2 bln loan for UAE nuclear plant, Reuters, September 8, 2012
- DPRK: US Japan agree to deploy another X-band missile defence radar
- ENERGY SECURITY: In wake of Fukushima disaster, Japan to end nuclear power by 2030s
- GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: South Korean software mogul to stand for presidency
- CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: Making cities resilient report 2012
- AUSTRAL PEACE AND SECURITY: Defence sets sights on Triton drone
See this week’s blog: Role of leadership in managing disaster risk, from our Climate Change Adaptation contributor, Saleem Janjua.
DETERRENCE: US Ex-Im Bank backs $2 bln loan for UAE nuclear plant, Reuters, September 8, 2012
The US Export-Import Bank approved a $2 billion direct loan to UAE’s Barakah One to buy US nuclear reactor equipment and constructions services to build reactors supplied by the Korea Electric Power Co. US support for the UAE nuclear deal is linked to negotiations over renewal of “123” non-reprocessing agreements with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
- S. Korea Wins Chance To Become Nuclear Powerhouse With UAE Deal, Byun Duk-kun, Yonhap, December 27, 2009
- Japan- Loan Application of Japan Atomic Power Company Tsurugua Nuclear Station, June 1, 1977, FOIA Document, NAPSNet, Special Reports, September 11, 2012
- 1982: Co-author, “Dumping Reactors in Asia: The U.S. Export-Import Bank and Nuclear Power in South Korea,” Japan-Asia Quarterly, part 1, volume 14, no 1, 1982, pp. 30-35; part 2, volume 14, no 2, 1982, pp. 16-23.
DPRK: US Japan agree to deploy another X-band missile defence radar, Radio Pakistan (17 September 2012)
Events continue to happen around North Korea. Japan will house another X band radar against a possible North Korean missile. Russia signed agreements with South Korea to cooperate on numerous projects including a pipeline through North Korea. Russia also signed a long-anticipated agreement to write off 90% of North Korea’s debt. North Korea initially accepted then rejected South Korean-offered aid because it did not include rice and cement.
- Russia writes off $10bn of North Korean debt, Miriam Elder, The Guardian (UK) (18 September 2012)
- Korea and Russia agree to cooperate on North Korea and economic projects, Eoh Jin-joo, Arirang TV News, (8 September 2012)
- North Korea reverses, says it won’t accept flood aid from South, Choi Jung-yoon, Los Angeles Times World, (12 September 2012)
ENERGY SECURITY: In wake of Fukushima disaster, Japan to end nuclear power by 2030s. Los Angeles Times. (14 September 2012).
Other countries find alternatives to nuclear. India needs an alternative to the secrecy, lies, and corruption of its nuclear establishment. As a popular protest against a nuclear plant is subjected to increasing repression, some thinking people are giving lie to the PM Singh’s claim last February, “The thinking segment of our population certainly is supportive of nuclear energy”. The former chairman of the nuclear regulatory board is calling for “a temporary moratorium on commissioning any new nuclear power plants“. The cult of the atom has begun to fade.
- France seen turning to renewables in policy shake-up. Muriel Boselli. Reuters. (14 September 2012).
- The march of folly. Praful Bidwai. Hindustan Times. (13 September 2012).
GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: South Korean software mogul to stand for presidency, Jack Kim and Ju-min Park, Reuters (19 Sept 2012)
ROK entrepreneur Ahn Cheol-soo declared his presidential run as an independent, ending months of speculation. Popular among younger voters, Ahn appears to be the strongest contender against the ruling party’s Park Geun-hae, with polls showing Ahn holding a slight lead. Both Ahn and the opposition’s Moon Jae-In support an expanded welfare state and stronger regulations on conglomerates. Candidates on both sides have called for improved inter-Korean relations.
- Ahn enters the presidential race, Ser Myo-ja, Joongang Ilbo (20 Sept 2012)
- S. Korea main opposition nominates Moon Jae In for president, Sangwon Yoon, Bloomberg (16 Sept 2012)
- S. Korean presidential candidate to soften Pyongyang stance, Agence France-Presse (14 Sept 2012)
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: Making cities resilient report 2012, The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction-UNISDR (September 2012) [2.07 MB, PDF]
The increasing concentration of people, economic activities and assets in urban areas has led to higher disaster risks. The reports find that economic losses to disasters have averaged at least $100 billion annually over the last twenty years. However, most of this damage can be avoided through better risk management and investment in social and institutional structures.
- Local governments and disaster risk reduction: good practices and lessons learned, UNISDR, UNDP and ITCILO (2010)
- Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, policy paper, ProAct Network (2008) [188 KB, PDF]
Blog: Role of leadership in managing disaster risk
–Saleem Janjua, Climate Change Adaptation Contributor
Climate variability and the extreme events (causing floods, droughts and storms) are one of the greatest global concerns. These global concerns have many implications at the local level…
AUSTRAL PEACE AND SECURITY: Defence sets sights on Triton drone, Brian Toohey, Australian Financial Review (18 September 2012) [subscription required]
Defence is keen to buy seven of a new version of Northrop Grumman’s Global Hawk drone called the Triton, which has a maritime surveillance role but no capacity to sink ships. The Triton, which is yet to become operational, will have an impressive surveillance capability with ceiling altitude of up to 56,000 feet, and an endurance of up to 28 hours. The main problem is cost at more than $200 million each. The government’s project budget – usually about double the fly-away cost – is $2 billion to $3 billion for seven.
- Top fixer to wield Defence knife, Tony Walker, Australian Financial Review (18 September 2012) [ED NOTE: NO SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED FOR THIS ARTICLE]
- Kicking it up a notch: Poseidon’s Unmanned MQ-4C BAMS companion, Defense Industry Daily (14 June 2012)
- RQ-4B Global Hawk Block 30, Operational Test and Evaluation Report, Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Department of Defense, (May 2011)
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 and security, the DPRK, climate change adaptation 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.
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Editor
Contributors
- Deterrence: Peter Hayes
- Governance and Civil Society: Dyana Mardon, Yi Kiho
- Climate Change Adaptation: Saleem Janjua
- DPRK: Roger Cavazos
- Energy Security: Nikhil Desai
- Austral Peace and Security: Richard Tanter