19 April 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: NWFZS and Extended Nuclear Deterrence: Squaring the Circle?
- DPRK: South Korea suspects that North may test nuclear device as well as rocket
- CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: USAID climate change and development strategy: Clean resilient growth
- ENERGY SECURITY: Small nuclear power reactors
- GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Governing party retains edge in South Korean vote
DETERRENCE: NWFZS and Extended Nuclear Deterrence: Squaring the Circle?, Jayantha Dhanpala, NAPSNet Special Report (17 April 2012)
US threats to use military force have failed to dissuade and deter the DPRK from its nuclear weapons programs and launching limited provocations. Repetitive confirmation of extended deterrence only strengthens North Korea’s nuclear development. The ROK and the US must shift to tailored deterrence by emphasizing punishment and denial toward the North, with a focus on conventional deterrence.
- South Korea on the fence: Nukes or no nukes?, Byong Chul Lee, 38 North (30 September 2011)
- As North sails subs, South Korea gives ships OK to fire, John Bennett, DOTMIL, U.S. News & World Report (5 April 2012)
- The Republic of Korea’s counter asymmetric strategy: Lesson from ROKS Cheonan and Yeonpyeong Island, Duk-Ki Kim, Naval War College Review, 65:1 (Winter 2012) [PDF, 465 KB]
Want a more in-depth discussion of this week’s deterrence section and how it relates to current issues in the DPRK? Please click here for Peter Hayes’ blog entry for the week.
DPRK: South Korea suspects that North may test nuclear device as well as rocket, The New York Times (8 April 2012)
Sources in the ROK have expressed concern that the North is preparing for a third nuclear test. Satellite images showed new tunnels being dug at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in the DPRK. The Chosun Simbo hinted that criticism of the launch would lead to circumstances similar to April 2009, when the North tested a nuclear weapon in response to UNSC condemnation of a launch. North Korea has completed assembling the rocket at the launch site.
- The DPRK rocket and Korean peace, Georgy Toloraya, 38 North (4 April 2012)
- North Korea’s mixed signals: Monitors, moratoriums and satellites, Aidan Foster-Carter, East Asia Forum (9 April 2012)
- N.Korea completes assembling rocket, Chosun Ilbo (9 April 2012)
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: USAID climate change and development strategy: Clean resilient growth, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) (January 2012) [PDF, 4.52 MB]
USAID is considering both how our activities affect greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts that a changing climate is already having (and will continue to have) on our globe. USAID’s 2012-2016 climate change and development strategy prioritizes development planning and programming for sustainable economic growth that is not only resilient to climate change but also reduces contributions to greenhouse gas emissions.
- USAID climate change and development strategy, Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning, USA (2011)
- USAID’s climate change and development strategy: A major step in US climate change efforts globally, Oxfam (2012)
ENERGY SECURITY: Small nuclear power reactors, World Nuclear Association (22 March 2012)
The World Nuclear Association notes a resurgence of interest in small nuclear reactors to provide power and heat, in a wide variety of applications. Summaries are provided for different small reactor technologies using a range of different fuel cycles, and including designs for modular deployment. The US Department of Energy has signed agreements with three companies interested in developing small reactors at an existing DOE nuclear complex.
- Small modular reactors: What’s on the horizon for 2012?, Edward Levy, Nuclear Energy Insider (1 February 2012)
- Nuclear energy 2011: A watershed year, Mark Hibbs, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, (January/February 2012)
- The efficiency boom: Cashing in on the savings from appliance standards, Amanda Lowenberger, Joanna Mauer, Andrew deLaski, Marianne DiMascio, Jennifer Amann, Steven Nadel, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (March 2012)
GOVERNANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY: Governing party retains edge in South Korean vote, Choe Sang-hun, New York Times (11 April 2012)
The ruling Saenuri Party maintained a majority following Wednesday’s Parliamentary elections, winning an unexpected 152 of 300 seats. Analysts had predicted that the opposition party would take back the majority, but faltered in recent months over scandals and criticisms over their candidate-nomination process. DPRK issues played a minimal role, despite rhetoric against the ruling party in past days and its impending satellite launch.
- S. Korea’s ruling party wins Parliamentary election with reduced majority, RTT News (12 April 2012)
- N. Korea raises spectre of war ahead of S. Korea poll, Bangkok Post (10 April 2012)
- North Korean missile test a non-factor in South Korean elections, Amiel Ungar, Israel National News (10 April 2012)
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.
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Editor
- Deterrence: Peter Hayes
- Governance and Civil Society: Yi Kiho, Dyana Mardon
- Climate Change Adaptation: Saleem Janjua
- DPRK: Scott Bruce
- Energy Security: David von Hippel