Last week over two days, APLN members, experts, and policy practitioners gathered in Kathmandu, Nepal for a policy dialogue on “Managing Strategic Risks in Asia and the Pacific” hosted by APLN and the Toda Peace Institute.

Participants assessed conflict dynamics and escalation risks in Southern Asia discussing ways in which nuclear issues impact the security of the broader region, as well as practical means to reduce these risks and pursue peace and stability. The event was part of APLN’s China-India-Pakistan Nuclear Trilemma project and was co-sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation and Toda Peace Institute.

Jun Bong-geun, APLN member and Professor at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, analyzes why North Korea replaced its 2013 nuclear law, the major differences between the current and previous law, and the signals North Korea is intending to send.

Pankaj Jha, Professor and Associate Dean at the Jindal School of International Affairs, presents an Indian perspective of China’s strategy and developments in the Pacific Islands region in light of India’s own strategic objectives for the region.

Tuya Nyamosor, former foreign minister of Mongolia and APLN board member, highlights  the myriad of problems plaguing the world today. She argues that the conflict in Europe is a reminder of the failure of diplomacy, and leaders in the Asia Pacific region should work together to prevent further deterioration of the regional security landscape.