Northeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Briefing Book

Comprehensive information relating to the concept of a Northeast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone.

About Nuclear Weapons Free Zones

Research and reference materials on nuclear weapons free zones in general.

Background & Proposals

Information on the requirements, benefits and outcomes of a Korea-Japan Nuclear Weapons Free Zone and different proposals for structuring, implementing, maintaining and eventually expanding a Korea-Japan NWFZ.

Extended Nuclear Deterrence

A Korea-Japan Nuclear Weapon Free Zone has implications for the US assurance of extended nuclear deterrence to Japan and Korea. At the very least a nuclear weapon free zone would require the United States to commit to not firing nuclear weapons out of the NWFZ, and such an agreement could shift the focus of US deterrence away from nuclear weapons and towards the reliance on the conventional forces already deployed in the region.

Energy Security

A Korea-Japan Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (KJNWFZ) necessitates that nuclear energy fuel cycle issues that relate to potential nuclear weapons development/production in Japan and the ROK are addressed to the satisfaction of each party. Some sort of arrangement regarding these nuclear fuel cycle activities is needed that fulfills energy security goals of the ROK and Japan while offering both Koreas and Japan sufficient confidence in the other parties’ nuclear activities to allow the KJNWFZ to be meaningfully sustained.

South Korea

Information on and perspectives from the South Korean government, military and civil society on topics relating to a possible Korea-Japan Nuclear Weapons Free Zone.

Japan

Information and perspectives from the Japanese government, self-defense force and civil society on issues relating to a possible Korea-Japan Nuclear Weapons Free Zone.

North Korea

A nuclear weapon free zone including the DPRK, even one armed at the outset with nuclear weapons, is a precondition of stabilizing the nuclear weapons and risk of war and nuclear war in the Korean Peninsula. The Korea-Japan Nuclear Weapons Free Zone would require the DPRK to reaffirm its goal of denuclearization and achieving nuclear-free status; and to implement its own announced policy of favoring a nuclear weapon free zone in Korea and beyond. If the DPRK is to disarm its nuclear weapons, then it will require a sovereign American guarantee that it is not targeted by US nuclear weapons--a guarantee the 'zone' uniquely offers. By enabling a transformational change in the DPRK, such a Zone would enable it to shift its current spoiler state status to take on a more cooperative and responsible role that contributes to the regional community.