| In our latest update, Jun Bong-geun argues that South Korea must address international proliferation concerns by implementing domestic legislation that reinforces South Korea’s commitment to peaceful use of nuclear energy. Marianne Hanson examines how the failure of the recent NPT Review Conference reflects a collapse of trust, as nuclear-weapon states prioritise the expansion and modernisation of their arsenals over disarmament obligations. We are also delighted to introduce Mary Wareham and Alson Kelen as our newest network members.
As always, we highlight recent activities from our network, including analyses on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, potential future formats of arms control, nuclear testing, Australia’s readiness for crisis, and Japan’s foreign policy. |
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We are delighted to welcome two new members to our network:
Mary Wareham (New Zealand), former Deputy Director of the Crisis, Conflict and Arms Division at Human Rights Watch, founding coordinator of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, and a leading voice on humanitarian disarmament, including the Mine Ban Treaty and Convention on Cluster Munitions; and
Alson Kelen (Marshall Islands), a Bikinian cultural elder and master navigator whose advocacy draws on the Marshall Islands’ lived experience of nuclear testing. He is co-founder and Director of Waan Aelōň in Majel.
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Why South Korea Needs a Basic Law on the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy
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South Korea is one of the world’s leading nuclear energy producers, yet it remains dependent on external fuel-cycle services. Jun Bong-geun argues that developing independent fuel-cycle capabilities could address this longstanding structural weakness but cautions that success will hinge on maintaining international confidence in Seoul’s non-proliferation credentials. He proposes a basic law on the peaceful use of nuclear energy to codify principles of peaceful use, transparency, and international cooperation within South Korea’s domestic legal framework.
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More coordinated efforts needed to reduce nuclear weapons
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Marianne Hanson argues that the 2026 NPT Review Conference’s failure to reach consensus is symptomatic of a deep malaise in the non-proliferation regime. Nuclear-weapon states are not only modernising and expanding their arsenals but increasingly acting in ways that heighten nuclear risks, while perceptions of double standards in how non-proliferation norms are applied continue to erode faith among non-nuclear-weapon states in the NPT’s central bargain. Restoring trust, reciprocity, and meaningful progress on disarmament, she argues, has never been more urgent.
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APLN has over 180 members from 24 countries in the Asia-Pacific.
Each week, we feature their latest contributions
to global and regional security debates.
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| Chung-in Moon, APLN Vice Chair, wrote in The Hankyoreh that it is time to recognise that pressuring North Korea to completely denuclearise is an unrealistic approach and instead focus on easing tensions and building confidence to manage risks. |
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| Mely Caballero-Anthony, Professor of International Relations at Nanyang Technological University, observed that arms control is not dead, but its institutions are barely functioning. With the world’s two largest nuclear powers operating without constraints for the first time in fifty years, the burden increasingly falls on middle powers and regional coalitions to sustain stability through diplomacy, norm-building, and institutional innovation. |
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| Trevor Findlay, Honorary Professorial Fellow of the School of Social and Political Sciences at University of Melbourne, was featured on the Nuclear Matters Podcast, where he discussed nuclear testing and the CTBT/CTBTO in light of the Trump administration’s threat to resume nuclear testing. |
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| Cathy Moloney, Vice President in The Asia Group’s Australia practice, joined The Australian’s 2026 Defending Australia Summit to discuss whether AUKUS is aligned with near-term conflict scenarios, how Australia can rapidly scale its defence industry, and the need to protect critical infrastructure during global shocks. |
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| C. Raja Mohan, the Korea Chair at the Council for Strategic and Defence Research, Delhi, wrote for the Indian Express and noted that Japan’s new military doctrine focuses on strengthening national defence and adopting a more active regional security role, with important lessons for India. |
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