New article on Non-State Actors and Irregular Warfare by Sam Mullins

By |2024-12-21T10:14:12-10:00December 21st, 2024|Categories: External Publications, news, Mullins|Tags: , |

In "The Role of Non-State Actors as Proxies in Irregular Warfare and Malign State Influence," Dr. Sam Mullins examines how states like China and Russia leverage non-state actors (NSAs) to conduct irregular warfare, employing tactics that blur the lines between peace and conflict. These NSAs engage in activities ranging from persistent low-level operations aimed at undermining adversaries' institutions to more aggressive actions that challenge the sovereignty of other nations.

Lauren Dickey and DKI APCSS’ Col. Matthew Kent Call for a Reassessment of U.S. Policy on Taiwan in War on the Rocks

By |2024-12-10T14:37:14-10:00December 10th, 2024|Categories: External Publications, news, kent|Tags: , , , , , |

“This is Not the Status Quo You’re Looking For” by Lauren Dickey and DKI APCSS’ Col. Matthew Kent was recently published by War on the Rocks. In the article, the authors argue that the United States’ longstanding policy of maintaining the “status quo” on Taiwan is increasingly misaligned with contemporary geostrategic realities. Rooted in Cold War-era agreements, the policy aims to deter hostilities by avoiding an official stance on Taiwan’s sovereignty. However, this approach has not accounted for China’s use of gray zone tactics—subtle, coercive measures that fall short of provoking military conflict but aim to achieve political objectives.  According to the authors,  the “status quo,” once effective in a very different geopolitical landscape, now risks enabling China’s aggressive posturing and undermining Taiwan’s security.

Coups and Civil-Military relations in South Korea

By |2024-12-12T10:33:50-10:00December 9th, 2024|Categories: Kim, External Publications, news|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Dr. Lami Kim has a new article in Foreign Policy on the recent self-coup and martial law attempt by President Yoon in South Korea.  The article, “Yoon’s Coup Attempt Shows Sad State of Civil-Military Relations,” provides an in-depth look the Republic of Korea’s history of past military dictatorship. According to Kim, “As South Koreans and supporters of democracy around the world anxiously watch how this situation unfolds, it is crucial to learn from what happened. This incident serves as a stark reminder that civil-military relations are never static and can regress without vigilant management. If there is a silver lining to this situation, it is that South Koreans now have an opportunity to confront the lingering legacies of military dictatorship and take definitive steps toward establishing healthy, sustainable civil-military relations.”

Dialogue #33 | Sustainability and Responsibility in Space

By |2024-12-05T16:17:14-10:00November 29th, 2024|Categories: Minnich, news, webinar, Media, Security Nexus Webinar|Tags: , |

The space race isn’t over; it has simply evolved into a new, more complex phase. While Cold War rivalries may have faded, a different kind of competition is now underway – a race to ensure the long-term sustainability of this critical domain. With the number of satellites and space actors growing exponentially, the need for responsible behavior and international cooperation has never been more pressing. This was the central theme of Dialogue 33, where experts Dr. Namrata Goswami and Sam Wilson joined DKI APCSS professors Dr. James Minnich and Dr. Al Oehlers to explore the critical challenges and opportunities in securing the future of space.

Dialogue #32 | Seoul Between Moscow and Pyongyang

By |2024-12-03T10:42:04-10:00November 26th, 2024|Categories: Minnich, news, webinar, Media, Security Nexus Webinar|Tags: , , |

What are Seoul’s strategic options in response to North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia amid the Ukraine conflict? Dr. Lami Kim explores the risks of technology transfers, phased response strategies, and the delicate balance between deterrence and escalation in this evolving security challenge.

How Seoul Should Respond to North Korea’s Soldiers in Russia

By |2024-11-18T15:18:25-10:00November 18th, 2024|Categories: Kim, External Publications, news|Tags: , |

A new OpEd by Dr. Lami Kim published by the United States Institute for Peace. As North Korean soldiers deploy to Russia, South Korea faces complex security challenges that could shift the regional military balance. North Korea's involvement in the Ukraine war marks the first large-scale combat engagement of its military since the Korean War, exposing its troops to modern warfare and potentially securing lucrative cash flows from Russia, despite sanctions. Additionally, the specter of Moscow supplying Pyongyang with advanced military technologies threatens to destabilize the Korean Peninsula.

A Security Nexus Perspective on Water Quality and Regional Stability

By |2024-11-08T13:00:55-10:00November 8th, 2024|Categories: Journal, news, Allen|Tags: , , |

“Water, Water, Everywhere: Advancing Water Security Through Improving Water Quality,” authored by DKI APCSS Professor Ethan Allen, explores the essential role of water quality technology in bolstering water security across the Indo-Pacific region. This piece highlights how advancements in decontamination technologies are vital to addressing water contamination, which is worsening due to climate change, population growth, and pollution. Professor Allen explains that many communities in the region rely on compromised water sources for domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses. The article reviews progress in filtration, heat, chemical treatments, and evaporation-re-condensation methods for removing various pollutants. Noteworthy innovations, such as atmospheric water generation and solar distillation, present adaptable and sustainable solutions to water scarcity.

Dialogue | Episode 31: Indo-Pacific Underwater Competition

By |2024-11-18T10:19:36-10:00November 3rd, 2024|Categories: Minnich, news, webinar, Media, Security Nexus Webinar|Tags: , , |

Dive deep into the future of underwater competition with leading experts from around the globe! This webinar unites five specialists from Korea, the United States, and India to explore the critical challenges and emerging technologies in underwater competition, maritime domain awareness, seabed warfare, and the protection of vital submarine cables.

Dialogue Episode 30 | Conflict’s End in Ukraine

By |2024-10-29T12:45:17-10:00October 29th, 2024|Categories: Minnich, news, webinar, Media, Security Nexus Webinar|Tags: , , |

As the war in Ukraine grinds on with no clear resolution in sight, the international community faces mounting pressure to explore pathways toward ending the conflict. Ukraine’s uncertain future was the focus of Episode 30 of Dialogue, “Conflict’s End in Ukraine,” where DKI APCSS professor Dr. James Minnich discussed these dynamics with Dr. Marzena Żakowska, an assistant professor and lecturer at the Faculty of National Security at War Studies University in Warsaw, Poland.

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