| This week, we publish expert responses to the South Korean Foreign Minister’s exclusive commentary for APLN. Jun Bong-geun, Maria Rost Rublee, and Toby Dalton each engage with the Minister’s argument, broadly endorsing his case against nuclear armament, but pressing Seoul on whether its pursuit of enrichment, reprocessing, and nuclear-powered submarines can be managed without compounding proliferation risks.
Kazuko Ito argues that the US–Israeli war on Iran violates international law and calls for countries to strengthen multilateral partnerships. We also feature two events exploring US-China relations and No First Use policies.
As always, we highlight recent activities from our network, including analyses on the US-Israeli war on Iran, India’s strategic autonomy, and more. |
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Non-Proliferation as a Strategic Imperative: Experts respond to ROK Foreign Minister
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Following the publication of South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun’s exclusive APLN commentary, we feature three expert perspectives evaluating the future of South Korea’s nuclear trajectory. Jun Bong-geun, Maria Rost Rublee and Toby Dalton explore the economic, diplomatic, and security trade-offs of “going nuclear,” offering a critical look at how the Lee Jae-myung administration can navigate public opinion while managing the threshold risks of nuclear-powered submarines and fuel cycle capabilities.
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| Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, argues that non-proliferation is ‘not simply a matter of principle, but a logical strategic imperative,’ warning that nuclear armament would erode the US-ROK alliance, trigger regional proliferation, and devastate one of the world’s most globally integrated economies.” |
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Time for Strategic Dialogue on Great Power Threats
to Peace and Security
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Kazuko Ito argues that the US and Israel’s use of force against Iran violates international law and exposes deep hypocrisy in the post-war UN system. She warns that such actions, alongside support for Israel despite alleged human rights violations in Gaza, risk eroding global norms and triggering a broader breakdown of the international order. She calls for Asia-Pacific countries, particularly Japan and South Korea, to reduce their overreliance on bilateral ties with the US and instead build a dense network of multilateral partnerships to establish a more just, resilient, and rules-based global order.
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What Changes Lie Ahead for Security in Asia?
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On 10 April, APLN, in partnership with the Normandy Region, will host a panel discussion titled ‘What Changes Lie Ahead for Security in Asia?‘ at the 8th Normandy World Peace Forum in Caen. APLN members Carlos Sorreta and Lim Eunjung will speak at the session, which will be moderated by APLN Senior Policy Fellow Tanvi Kulkarni. The panel will discuss how Asian states foresee the evolution of their relations with China over the next decade.
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Will you be at the NPT Review Conference?
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| Are you planning on attending the NPT RevCon this month?
Members of the APLN team will be in New York on May 6-9, and would look forward to connect with you.
Email APLN Senior Policy Fellow Joel Petersson Ivre ivre@apln.network if you want to get in touch. |
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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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| On April 7, APLN Members Gareth Evans and Manpreet Sethi spoke at an event hosted by the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) on proposals for No First Use policies and their potential role in advancing nuclear risk reduction and disarmament. |
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| Marianne Hanson, Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Queensland, wrote for the South China Morning Post and pointed out that the current system of tolerating nuclear weapons in some states while denying them to others reflects unsustainable double standards that undermine global non-proliferation efforts. A consistent, universal approach is necessary to delegitimise nuclear weapons and reduce incentives for their spread. |
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| Shyam Saran, former Foreign Secretary of India, wrote for NatStrat and argued that India has gone further by insisting that a multipolar world order must include a multipolar Asia. In other words, India does not accept a hierarchical order in Asia dominated by China, in which it would be a junior player. This is a clear example of India’s strategic autonomy principle, a concept that has imparted a remarkable consistency to India’s foreign policy. |
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| Shen Dingli, Professor and former executive dean at Fudan University’s Institute of International Studies, was interviewed by The Wire, where he shared his account of the Hainan spy plane crisis on the eve of its 25th anniversary. |
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| Manpreet Sethi, APLN Senior Research Adviser, wrote for the Indian Express and analysed the criticality milestone of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), while warning that India’s expansion, particularly through private sector involvement, requires all stakeholders to be vigilant regarding the sensitivity of nuclear materials and technology. |
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| C. Raja Mohan, Distinguished Professor at the Motwani-Jadeja Institute of American Studies at Jindal Global University, wrote for the Indian Express and highlighted the urgent necessity of reconciling differences regarding Iran’s missile capabilities, regional proxies, and the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the clear need for diplomacy, he cautions that many veto holders or spoilers remain entrenched on both sides of the conflict. |
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