Dear Network Members and Colleagues,
This week’s newsletter from APLN welcomes two new members to our network, features a commentary on the need to address nuclear dangers, a Korea Times column on the implications of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, two new Pulse analyses, an upcoming webinar series on Co-operative Solutions for North Korean Denuclearization, as well as member activities.
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| APLN is pleased to welcome two new distinguished members to our network, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROK, Kang Kyung-wha, and former Indian Ambassador Neelam Deo.
Former Minister Kang is also Professor Emeritus of the Graduate School of International Studies at Ewha Womans University. She joins APLN as the first female member from South Korea. Former Ambassador Deo has served as Ambassador to Denmark and Ivory Coast, and served at the Indian embassies in Rome, Bangkok, and Washington. Currently, she writes and speaks on strategic issues and India-US relations as the Co-Founder of Gateway House. |
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On 2 September, APLN Senior Research Adviser Dr. Tanya Ogilvie-White published a commentary on the occasion of the release of the results from the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) dialogue on nuclear disarmament, deterrence and strategic arms control. In her commentary, Dr. Ogilvie-White, who was one of the dialogue’s participating experts, underlines the severity of today’s nuclear challenges and the urgency of addressing them across venues, whether multilateral, regional, bilateral, or national. Read more |
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On 2 September, APLN Member and Chairman of the Asan Institute Dr. Han Sung-Joo wrote for the APLN-Korea Times column, discussing the implications of the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan. He argues that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan should not be viewed as a cause for concern among US allies, but rather represents an opportunity for the US to refocus its attention on its other alliance commitments. Read more |
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| APLN’s two latest Pulse analyses commemorate the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, and offer expert commentary on the recent restart of North Korea’s nuclear reactor at Yongbyon. |
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International Day Against Nuclear Tests
Marking the International Day against Nuclear Tests on 29 August, APLN asked Dr Kate Dewes, Professor Davianna Pomaika’i McGregor, Ms. Rhea Moss-Christian, and Mr. Alimzhan Akhmetov to share their thoughts on the dangers of nuclear testing and the significance of this day. Read more. |
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Responding to North Korea’s Reopening of the Yongbyon Reactor
On 7 September, four North Korea experts, APLN Vice-Chair Chung-in Moon, Professor Bong-Geun Jun, Ms. Jinkyung Baek, and Dr. Naoko Aoki gave their views and suggested how the international community should react to recent reports that North Korea had completed a reprocessing cycle of spent nuclear fuel at its Yongbyon facility. Read more |
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APLN – with support from the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and sponsored by the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of Unification and the MacArthur Foundation – will host three online webinars to review the potential for an effective DPRK Cooperative Threat Reduction plus (CTR+) initiative.
The webinars will feature special remarks by South Korean Minister of Unification Lee In-Young and Co-Chair of NTI, former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, as well as presentations by prominent experts including Dr. Siegfried Hecker. The public webinars will be followed by private, closed-door workshops.
For more information, please visit our website, and tune in live to the APLN YouTube channel at the following times:
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KST: September 15th, 24th, and 28th from 8:00 AM
EST: September 14th, 23rd, and 27th from 7:00 PM |
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Pyongyang’s reaction to weak Washington overtures goes nuclear
On 30 August, APLN Senior Research Fellow Jessica Lee, published a commentary in Responsible Statecraft, discussing North Korea’s restarting of the nuclear reactor at Yongbyon. She argues that the restart reveals North Korean impatience with the lack of diplomatic engagement from the United States, and urges policymakers to be mindful of their ultimate objectives to avoid another vicious circle of escalation. Read moreNPT RevCon Rescheduled to 2022: Use the Time to Build Bridges
On 26 August, APLN Member Dr. Manpreet Sethi, published a commentary at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) on the postponement of the review conference (RevCon) for the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). She argues that the postponement can be used as an opportunity to generate positive momentum for the treaty’s core objectives. Read moreTaliban in Afghanistan and Growing Nuclear Risks in Pakistan – What’s the Connection?
On 31 August, Dr. Manpreet Sethi also published analysis at the Center of Air Power Studies (CAPS) on the risks that extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan pose to nuclear security in the region. She argues that the international community must put greater pressure on Pakistan to ensure its own nuclear security. Read moreKorea Global Forum for Peace
Between 31 August and 2 September, the Ministry of Unification of the ROK hosted Korea Global Forum for Peace, a semi-online conference, in Seoul. APLN Vice-Chair Chung-in Moon and APLN Member Mr. Jargalsaikhan Enkhsaikhan both participated. Read moreThe real lesson Korea should take away from fall of Kabul
On 6 September, APLN Vice-Chair Chung-in Moon published his regular column in Hankyoreh on the recent US withdrawal from Afghanistan. In the column, he argued that the withdrawal highlights why South Korea must reconsider the role of the United States in the Korean Peninsula. Read more |
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