A Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in Northeast Asia: Prospects and Insights from Other Regions

ABSTRACT Building upon my book, “Nuclear Weapons Free Zones”, I assess the scope conditions for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (NWFZ) in Northeast Asia. In particular, I evaluate the role of the value of common security for states as a way to cope with nuclear threats, regional economic cooperation, regional institutions, democracy, regional powers, and nonproliferation entrepreneurship. In addition, I offer insights from other regions. While the existing conditions in the Northeast are not currently conducive for a NWFZ, Northeast Asia’s effort should be put into achieving the end of the DPRK nuclear program, the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and perhaps at a later stage, an NWFZ might be considered.