Nuclear Security

Pyongyang, North Korea [calflier001 via Flickr, 10/23/12]As policymakers remain understandably focused on upcoming negotiations with Iran concerning its nuclear program, North Korea continues to pose a serious national security challenge to the United States and Northeast Asia. Preceding Kim Jong-un’s “reelection” over the weekend, North Korea fired multiple short range ballistic missiles into the ocean as a signal of dissatisfaction with the ongoing annual U.S-South Korean military exercises. While this level of saber rattling is significantly below the threshold of past provocations, such as last year’s nuclear test and the shelling of the South Korean Island of Yeonpyeong in 2010, it is sufficient to remind the United States of the urgent need to reinvigorate diplomacy towards the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula – an… Read More ›

My Strategic Impatience By John Feffer  March 10, 2014 | The Hankyoreh A recent publication by the National Security Network and the National Committee on North Korea offers the administration some suggestions on how to make some progress on what remains the most intractable problem that the 20th century has gifted to the 21st. In place of “strategic patience,” which cedes control over the process to Pyongyang, the report recommends that the Obama administration shift over to “strategic shaping.” This more proactive approach to North Korea consists of several interlocking proposals. First, it means talking to North Korea, and not just through the infamous back channel with the New York-based DPRK mission to the United Nations. High-level contacts, preferably initiated by a new official in… Read More ›

US ex-envoy says dialogue vital with North Korea February 27, 2014 | Yahoo! News   Washington (AFP) – The US diplomat who led the last substantive denuclearization negotiations with North Korea urged fresh dialogue Wednesday, warning that the long gap in talks only aggravated the risks. Christopher Hill represented the United States in six-nation talks in which Pyongyang agreed in 2005 and 2007 to give up its nuclear weapons in return for aid and security guarantees. Relations have since worsened significantly, with North Korea defiantly carrying out another nuclear test last year. Hill presented an independent report that urged more “robust diplomacy” with North Korea. The study, by the National Security Network and the National Committee on North Korea, called for the United States to… Read More ›

Rep. Eliot L. Engel, the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement following today’s event on the challenges posed by a nuclear North Korea hosted by the National Committee on North Korea and the National Security Network. ” I would like to acknowledge John Bradshaw of the National Security Network (NSN), and Karin Lee of the National Committee on North Korea (NCNK), for their work on the joint report that seeks to tackle the difficult issues in dealing with North Korea. I also want to thank Ambassador Chris Hill, our former lead negotiator to the Six-Party Talks, who knows first-hand the challenge of negotiating with the North Koreans. To read comments in their entirety, please click here. Read More ›

Experts Call for Steps to Jump-Start North Korea Nuclear Engagement February 26, 2014   Rachel Oswald | Global Security Newswire   A new expert report recommends changing U.S. policy on North Korea denuclearization to focus more on interim steps and crisis-stability measures. A paper by the National Security Network and the National Committee on North Korea argues a change of approach is needed as the current policy of refusing to engage until Pyongyang first takes serious disarmament steps “risks de facto recognition of North Korea as a nuclear power.” …   For the original piece, click here. The article was also posted by the National Journal here, and by World News here. Read More ›

U.S. needs to do more in approach to North Korea talks: report   February 26, 2014 David Brunnstrom | Reuters   (Reuters) – U.S. foreign policy and North Korea experts said in a report released on Wednesday that the United States should engage more with North Korea as a way to revive talks aimed at ending Pyongyang’s nuclear-weapons program. The joint report from two think tanks, National Security Network and the National Committee on North Korea, said Washington needs to shift from an “all or nothing” approach requiring Pyongyang to meet conditions for the resumption of nuclear talks with major powers that were suspended in 2009. … John Bradshaw, executive director of the National Security Network, said the report would be circulated on Capitol Hill… Read More ›

November 20, 2013 John Bradshaw gives a speech on recent nuclear deal with Iran to an audience at Florida State University /wp-content/uploads/2013/12/irantalks1125d.mp3 Read More ›

Security Insiders: World Powers Struck a ‘Good Deal’ With Iran By Sara Sorcher December 3, 2013 | National Journal But experts are split on whether the interim deal will lead to a lasting agreement. A strong majority of National Journal‘s National Security Insiders thought the recent agreement between world powers and Iran—to limit its nuclear program in exchange for some sanctions relief—is a “good deal,” despite scathing criticism by Iran hawks and Israel. The agreement, inked in Geneva, “is better than expected and rolls back key aspects of the Iranian progress toward bomb-grade highly enriched uranium,” one Insider said. It also increases likely international support for tougher sanctions, another Insider added, if Iran does not comply with this accord or refuses to conclude an acceptable, subsequent comprehensive… Read More ›

Iran Nuclear Deal Halts Congress’s March to Sanctions By John Hudson November 25, 2013 | Foreign Policy A mounting bipartisan effort to impose additional sanctions on Iran was sent into disarray on Monday following the weekend’s announcement of a deal on Iran’s nuclear program. Although some hawks in Congress want to charge ahead with additional sanctions against Tehran, that effort has taken a backseat to legislation that will let the Geneva deal play out — an important victory for the White House. Much was made of the bipartisan outrage Sunday over the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) called the deal “disappointing,” Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said it gave too much away and Republicans called it a “blow to our allies.”Media reports warned that… Read More ›

Iran deal wins praise, but next steps tougher By Joe Biddle November 25, 2013 | Agence France-Presse Washington — Analysts Sunday praised a ground-breaking interim deal with Iran to rein in its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief, but warned negotiations for a full agreement will prove even tougher. “The interim deal is a strong one, which achieves a broader array of constraints and verification on Iran’s nuclear program than ever previously contemplated,” said Suzanne Maloney, senior fellow with the Brookings Institution.   For the original piece, click here. Read More ›