My Blog Posts

• Netherlands to Host 2014 Nuclear Security Summit
  01/31/2012 03:36:30 PM EST
  The Netherlands has accepted Seoul's request to host the 3rd Nuclear Security Summit in 2014. In a January 31 (local time) statement, its Foreign Ministry said," The Dutch government regards the request as a sign of trust and has responded positively. The chairmanship will be officially transferred at the 2012 Summit in Seoul in March." Yonhap News cited (Korean language) similar comments made by Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal who, while submitting a report to parliament, said that "the (Dutch) government regards South Korea's request as an expression of confidence based on the Netherlands' contributions to nuclear nonproliferation efforts this year." An official announcement is expected in late March during the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, as was case after the first 2010 Washington Summit. At the 2010 Summit in Washington, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende had argued for a new international court or tribunal to investigate countries that provide nuclear material to terrorists, claiming the Hague would be the ideal site.
• Nuclear Security Update
  01/17/2012 05:24:38 PM EST
  Hi all, two new papers by yours truly: 1. Where Nuclear Safety and Security Meet co-authored with Jungmin Kang, KAIST visiting professor published by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Jan/Feb 2012 issue found here or here:

  - "Fukushima has implicitly exposed the relationship between the nuclear safety problem and the nuclear security problem. The disaster also suggests that nuclear power plant safety and security can be strengthened simultaneously through improvements in vital areas, including on-site power supplies, the cooling system for reactors and spent fuel ponds, and the main control room."

  - "To guard against natural accidents, terrorist sabotage, and possible combinations of these, it is time for a combined approach that strengthens nuclear safety-security."

  Abstract

  A Fukushima-like nuclear accident does not have to be caused by nature. Similar results could be wrought by a dedicated terrorist group that gained access to a nuclear power plant and disabled its safety systems. To guard against natural accidents, terrorist sabotage, and possible combinations of these two classes of events, nuclear plant operators and regulators should consider a combined approach called nuclear safety-security. Although safety and security programs have different requirements, they overlap in key areas and could support and enhance one another. Nuclear facilities could improve safety-security in technical ways, including more secure emergency electrical supplies, better security for control rooms, and, at new plants, reactor containment structures built to survive attacks by terrorist-flown airplanes. At the institutional level, regulators could strengthen the safety-security interface by requiring that it be built into the life cycle of nuclear plants, from design to dismantlement. The authors offer technical and institutional recommendations on how, for example, the International Atomic Energy Agency can support improved safety-security at nuclear plants globally by creating design standards that relate to both accidents and threats while encouraging countries to accept International Physical Protection Advisory Service missions that review security and physical protection systems and provide advice on best practices.

  2. UNSCR 1540 & the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit: A View from Seoul published by the new journal 1540 Compass Winter 2012 edition found here or here:

  - "The Republic of Korea (ROK) has been and remains a staunch supporter of the global nonproliferation regime as it borders a grave security threat and proliferator of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). With the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit just months away, the Republic of Korea should be more interested in enhancing UNSCR 1540, not only as the Summit Chair but against the backdrop of a “Global Korea” policy and the nation’s growing prominence in the nuclear energy industry."

  - [T]he most realistic and practical method to advance 1540 could come in the form of  house gifts” (national voluntary commitments) from individual heads of state."

• 2012 Nuclear Security Summit: Joint Statement by the Eminent Persons Group
  11/29/2011 01:40:08 PM EST
  An international group of dignitaries called the Eminent Persons Group met with Korean President Lee Myung-bak Tuesday, November 29 in Seoul and adopted a joint statement (full text below) on how to make the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit a success.  The Presidential Office says the group expressed their strong support for the summit and recommended six ways to make it a success:

  1.    Achieve progress in the 2010 Washington Summit commitments;

  2.    Devise a workable vision and implementation measures for nuclear security via the Seoul Communiqué;

  3.    Secure detailed country commitments from summit participants;

  4.    Restore confidence in nuclear power wrought by Fukushima and actively seek ways to deal with radiological terrorism;

  5.    Strengthen international and regional cooperation to deal with illegal smuggling of nuclear materials;

  6.    Maintain momentum by ensuring a 3rd summit.

  The Eminent Persons Group is comprised of: Kang Chang Sun (ROK), Oh Myeong (ROK), Han Sung-joo (ROK), Graham Allison (US), Hans Blix (Sweden), Gareth Evans (Australia), Goh Chok Tong (Singapore), Igor Ivanov (Russia), A.P.J Abdul Kalam (India), Henry Kissinger (US), Shinichi Kitaoka (Japan), Li Zhaoxing (China), Sam Nunn (US), William Perry (US), Hubert Vedrine (France) Below is the full text of the Joint Statement adopted by the Eminent Persons Group:
  
• 2012 Nuclear Security Summit: Opportunities and Challenges
  11/29/2011 01:26:50 PM EST
  The Nautilus Institute ran a piece on November 22, 2011 written by yours truly on the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit and can be viewed here or here. The gist of my piece is:

  “There are clear ways in which Seoul can capitalize on its strengths to flavor the 2012 [Nuclear Security Summit] with a “Korean twist” as it maintains depth on key substantive issues that ensure the security of nuclear materials, parts, and facilities…The challenge lies in clearly demonstrating that the benefits outweigh the costs, and that states would have a national interest in further investing their political capital in nuclear security."

  Click here to read more.
• A Certain Uncertain Certainty
  10/24/2011 10:03:14 AM EST
  Washington appears to be anticipating some answers from Pyongyang in talks this week in Geneva, but it might have already gotten a response – from the Dear Leader himself. (Click 'Read More')