The only way forward: a bilateral Korea-Japan nuclear weapon free zone Richard Tanter and Yi Kiho Nautilus Institute

Outline 1.What is the Korea-Japan NWFZ proposal? 2.What is the primary rationale and purpose? 3.What is the Nautilus approach to this work? - research, networks, policy 4.A Korean perspective 5.A Japanese perspective 6.The Australian contribution See Nautilus Institute, Korea-Japan Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (KJNWFZ) concept paper workshop/research-papers/Nautilus %20Institute.pdf/

Korea-Japan NWFZ World’s first NWFZ covering OECD countries—an important strengthening of non-nuclear norm Incremental steps to realize Japanese proposal. Note: S.W. Cheon and T. Suzuki’s 2003 examination of a zone that includes the two Koreas and Japan comes closest and is extremely valuable in anticipating many issues involved in a KJNWFZ, but aims more at facilitating early entry by a denuclearized DPRK into a tripartite zone, whereas the proposal Here assumes the DPRK may join only later or never. See their “The Tripartite Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Northeast Asia:, a Long-Term Objective of the Six Party Talks,” International Journal of Korean Studies, 12, 2, 2003, pp

Workshop contributions Specific: –Lee Ji-hyun: ROK as de facto NWFZ –Michael Hamel-Green - institutionalising the concept –Mark Valencia: transit issues Related: –Deterrence and strategic futures papers –Nuclear energy paper

Value of a Korea-Japan NWFZ 1.To devalue DPRK nuclear threat to ROK, Japan, US 2.To make legally binding negative security assurance to ROK, Japan, and ROK from NWS 3.To reduce nuclear threat between NWS in region 4.To deepen non-nuclear commitments of Japan and Korea 5.To initiate a regional security institutional framework involving NWSs and NNWS, including DPRK 6.To make DPRK denuclearization possible 7.To establish new norm (first NWFZ with OECD) 8.To reaffirm and realize Global Abolition in NEA region

A Korean Perspective Nuclear sovereignty or nuclear nationalism in Korea and Japan The parallel with on-going 6 party talks KJNWFZ is not enough to get rid of the fear of North Korea KJNWFZ needs simultaneously one more new concept as a NEA regional security system based on trust and disarmament rather than militarization or alliance.

A Japanese perspective Universal question: can you overcome Japan- Korea antagonism? Japan/Korea public opinion divergence on NWs NWFZ and missile defence NWFZ and indigenous nuclear weapon NWFZ and extended deterrence Government policy confusions –LDP and the Tomahawks –DJP gov’t policy about NEA NWFZ

Australian contribution US alliance partners increasingly strong bilateral security linkage closely tied economies - direct and indirect nuclear energy stakeholder Australian disarmament initiatives Australian role in South Pacific NWFZ and relation to SEA NWFZ Civil society history in generating pressures for NWFZ