Marking 30 years since the adoption of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), Dr Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the CTBTO, reflects on the Treaty’s practical contribution to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. He discusses the CTBT’s role within the NPT framework, the importance of a robust global verification system, and how monitoring data is being used across the Asia-Pacific for wider civilian applications, including tsunami early warning.

This interview was conducted by APLN Strategic Risk Reduction Fellow Hree P. Samudra and transcribed and edited by APLN Senior Policy Fellow Dr Tanvi Kulkarni.

Jun Bong-geun argues that North Korea’s continued nuclear buildup cannot be allowed to go unchecked. While complete denuclearisation remains the ultimate objective, he examines the Lee Jae Myung administration’s “suspension–reduction–elimination” approach, which shifts the immediate priority toward preventing further nuclear buildup. For such an approach to work, however, North Korea must first be brought back to the negotiating table. Jun considers whether renewed US-North Korea summit diplomacy could create an opening for initial nuclear suspension measures, and what Seoul and Washington would need to put on the table.

Sanghoe Lee compares the non-SSN anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities of the ROK Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, arguing that the key differences lie not simply in the number of assets, but in the infrastructure and institutions supporting them. While South Korea has rapidly strengthened its ASW capabilities, Japan’s longer experience has produced a more deeply institutionalised approach spanning doctrine, intelligence, surveillance and training. Both navies face growing challenges from increasingly capable submarines and shrinking personnel pools, making the effective integration of advanced and unmanned systems into existing operations increasingly important to sustaining ASW readiness.

APLN has over 190 members from 26 countries in the Asia-Pacific.
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