The Nautilus Peace and Security Network (NAPSNet) is a non-governmental information network launched by the Nautilus Institute in November 1993. NAPSNet covers the key areas of research and policy work of the Nautilus Institute nodes in San Francisco, Melbourne and Seoul, including Austral security, nuclear deterrence, energy security, climate change adaptation, the DPRK, governance and civil society and the links between these themes and the three regions in which our nodes are found—North America, Northeast Asia, and the Austral-Asia region.
The Weekly Report succinctly presents six items each week that we believe every reader should know about these fields.
Missile Defense 1. US NMD Program The Defense Department has concluded that the high-profile test of the missile-interceptor system on July 7 failed because a 10-year-old circuit board on a booster did not operate properly. US Defense Department spokesman Kenneth H. Bacon said that the timetable for future tests is slipping, development of a new […]
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Korean Peninsula 1. Reunion of Separated Families The four-day DPRK-ROK exchange of separated families ended Friday. In addition to “group meetings” on August 15, the visitors had four more family-by-family private meetings Wednesday and Thursday. ROK officials said on August 16 that the ROK and the DPRK will discuss ways to expand reunion programs for […]
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Korean Peninsula 1. US-DPRK Talks The US State Department said on August 10 that the two days of US-DPRK talks on removing the DPRK from the list of terrorist-sponsoring states were “productive.” The delegations were led by US State Department coordinator for counter-terrorism Michael Sheehan and DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye-gwan. “US-DPRK Talks” (Daily […]
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Nuclear Weapons 1. Russian Nuclear Policy Russian President Vladimir Putin fired six top generals, several of whom reportedly sided with Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev in his opposition to a plan floated by Chief of the General Staff Anatoly Kvashnin that would radically reduce the Strategic Missile Forces and merge them with other branches of the […]
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Korean Peninsula 1. Inter-Korean Talks The DPRK and the ROK announced the reopening of liaison offices at Panmunjom on August 15, cooperation in visits of displaced family members, and the imminent launching of negotiations on the reopening of severed railway links. The second round of inter-Korean ministerial talks will start on August 29. “Inter-Korean Talks” […]
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Missile Defense 1. Australian Participation in Missile Defense The Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) has been conducting joint experiments in Australia with the US Defense Department on the early detection of ballistic missile launches as part of US research into Theater Missile Defense (TMD) systems. Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer said […]
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Korean Peninsula 1. DPRK Participation in ARF The DRPK was formally inducted Thursday into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF). The DPRK delegation participated in a number of bilateral meetings. “DPRK Diplomacy” (Daily Report, July 28, ROK) “DPRK Participation in ARF” (Daily Report, July 27, US) “DPRK Participation at ARF” (Daily […]
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Nuclear Weapons 1. US Nuclear Policy Eric Schmitt writes that the principal arguments about US nuclear policy are for or against missile defenses and about strategies to fight the spread of nuclear weapons, but no one really knows where the nation’s nuclear doctrine is headed. He presents anecdotal evidence for the need to completely review […]
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Korea 1. DPRK Missile Development Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, following two rounds of talks with DPRK leader Kim Jong-il, announced on July 19 that the DPRK had offered to abandon its missile program if other nations provide it with rocket boosters for space exploration. Russia and the DPRK also signed a friendship treaty. A […]
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Korean Peninsula 1. US-DPRK Missile Talks US-DPRK negotiations over the DPRK’s missile program ended in a stalemate Wednesday, with the US refusing to pay US$1 billion a year in exchange for a halt to missile technology exports and the development of weapons for self-defense. “US-DPRK Missile Talks” (Daily Report, July 12, US) 2. US-DPRK Relations […]
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