The US-Korea Nuclear Working Group held a discussion on "Closing the Fuel Cycle in Asia: The Security Implications", on June 6, 2012.  Henry Sokolski, the Executive Director for the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center (NPEC), lead a talk on the security implications of closed fuel cycles in Asia.

While the merits of closing the nuclear fuel cycle are normally debated in technical and economic terms, security issues are often set aside as secondary concerns in such discussions. South Korea, Japan, and China have long expressed interest in developing nuclear reprocessing, and have generally justified their aspirations on the basis of energy security and waste management considerations. However, given the relatively perilous security environment that currently exists in Pacific Asia, there are those who argue that recycling technologies are also coveted as a means to build latent nuclear weapons capabilities and that the proliferation of such technologies would heighten regional instability. According to this perspective, the promotion of natural gas and grid efficiency measures would best address the energy problems of the countries in question. This alternate solution, in conjunction with enhanced security coordination and arms control efforts, would presumably alleviate pressures to develop closed fuel cycles. With a rising China, an uncertain future in North Korea, and fears of declining US commitment to the region, ascertaining intentions and allaying both energy and national security concerns will be critical to Asia’s future.

On Friday, May 18, Victor Gilinsky and Henry Sokolski will be speaking at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to present five principles for harmonizing civil nuclear power programs with nonproliferation requirements. These principles address issues relating to nuclear sovereignty, disarmament, enforcement and the risk of a latent breakout capability. George Perkovich from the Carnegie Nuclear Policy Program will moderate.

Date: Friday, May 18, 2012
Time: 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Location: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Address: 1779 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC

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Click here for an audio clip of the presentation. 

NPEC and the Foreign Policy Institute will co-host an event on Capitol Hill to discuss the "Gold Standard" for nuclear cooperation and the roles of Congress and the Executive in shaping nonproliferation policy. Speakers will include Ambassador John Bolton (American Enterprise Institute) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA).

Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Lunch and Registration: 11:45 AM to 12:00 PM
Discussion: 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Location: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2200

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Click here for the transcript

NPEC's executive director speaks at the University of Utah's The Barbara L. & Norman C. Tanner Center for Nonviolent Human Right Advocacy on strategic nuclear trends and what we can expect over the next 10 to 20 years.

"The Next Arms Race: Are We Ready?"
11.00 AM
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
University of Utah
Rasmussen Library, OSH 336

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NPEC-CSIS Co-host a seminar panel and book release event "Energy Loan Guarantees: Risks or Rewards?"
CSIS, Thursday, 10 a.m. – Noon
Features panelists from NEI and Friends of the Earth. Free copies of NPEC's Pure Risk: Federal Clean Energy Loan Guarantees will be made available.
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NPEC executive director gives lecture presentation. "Nuclear Nonproliferation in the 21st Century."
Geroge Mason University Fairfax Campus
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