The Northeast Asia Monitor July 2011 Date 8 July 2011 News Genkai mayor retracts approval of reactor

restarts after 'surprise' stress tests http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY2011070 70243.html 8 July 2011 Angry Kaieda to quit after Kan shifts nuke stance http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY2011070 70244.html Implication Prime Minister Kan announced the conduct of nationwide stress tests on Japans nuclear power plants. The announcement was made after the Genkai Prefectures governor okayed the restart of Genkai plants (resultant to the Industry Ministers persuasion). Consequently the governor had to retract his announcement to give way to the national governments plan. The serious lack of coordination between the national government and the local government units is unhealthy for the current situation in Japan. It engenders in the people distrust to government (both local and national.) Furthermore it spawns doubts among authorities. The Industry Minister was angered by Kans hasty action which seemingly undercuts his authority; he then announced his plan to resign in August. The resignation of the Industry Minister, who is in charge of nuclear power policies, and compensation to victims, will weaken Kans administration already hobbled by recent movements to oust him. Stress tests will take several months which will undermine electric power companies efforts to supply the growing demand for electricity in the advent of summer. Kan envisions Japan as a society that does not depend on nuclear power. However, while sharing his vision to the Japanese, he did not cite any specifics on how and when his vision for the country will be attained. Nevertheless, the prime minister is not alone in such plans for the country. Other sectors of the society (e.g. private sector) is working to wean Japan from its dependence to nuclear energy and promoting the use of renewable sources of energy. The primary trigger for such sentiment (i.e., Fukushima Incident) happened only a few months ago. The needed changes/adjustments may have not been adequately internalized in Japans infrastructure and policies to fully embrace the use of renewable sources of energy.

14 July 2011

Kan comes out for a society with no nuclear power plants http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY2011071 30622.html Softbank, prefectures start council to back renewable energy http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY2011071 30334.html

In fact, nuclears share in Japans energy generation was about 24% (2008). Moreover, before the nuclear meltdown occurred, the central government is planning to increase it to 40% by 2017 to 50% by 2030. Though there may be a strong public sentiment in favor of renewable sources of energy, there are still questions on its practicability; efficient technology is still on its way. Seoul is set to host the Winter Olympics in 2018. As the international event nears, the possibility of co-hosting it with Pyongyang arises. At this point, much is at stake for Pyongyang. Considering that China is pushing the North to reform its economy, it is an opportunity to prove to the rest of the world its sincerity with its economic policies. Should the North decided not to participate, The fact that the Olympics is an international event is a premise and added incentive for the North to at least behave . Such a partnership, if successful, will definitely be advantageous in furthering inter-Korean relations. However there a lot of safety and security issues to be resolved not to mention the culture of mistrust that spawned in a hostile environment where the two Koreas are living in. Washington is pressing South Korea to join Japan and the US to take a tough stance on Chinas sovereignty claims over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). While Japan is backing the idea, South Korea appears to be reluctant. The primary reason may be North Koreas staunch alliance with China. Offending China at this point may be harmful to inter-Korean relations. After his anti-nuclear pronouncements and the flurry of criticisms about its lack of specifics that followed, Kan seemingly retracted announcing that this reflects his personal view and not that of the central government. His anti-nuclear stance may be an effort to boost the Japaneses support to the government by taking the general publics attitude toward nuclear power plants. However, his efforts may have backfired. After his pronouncements, he

13 July 2011

Seoul rebuffs co-hosting of Olympics with NK http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/na tion/2011/07/116_90842.html

15 July 2011

Washington planning joint front against Chinese sovereignty claims http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY2011071 40333.htmlanger over lack

16 July 2011

Kan says call to end nuclear power was only a personal view http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY2011071 50322.html

17 July 2011

Korea working on details of 'unification tax': official http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/na tion/2011/07/113_91054.html

16 July 2011

Kan says call to end nuclear power was only a personal view http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY2011071 50322.html

was criticized of directing the country to the unknown due to lack of definite plans as regard to his desire to shift from nuclear power. Some key government officials also distanced themselves from Kans statement due to its serious lack of scientific basis. This shows the extent of how uncoordinated the government is amidst the crisis. Despite the volatile condition of inter-Korea relations, Seoul remains optimistic on the prospects of the unification as seen on their advanced efforts to work on a blueprint that will fund the unification. However, no matter what Seouls intentions are, this may send an impression to the North that it is taking an aggressive stance toward unification (i.e. war tax instead of unification tax). After his anti-nuclear pronouncements and the flurry of criticisms about its lack of specifics that followed, Kan seemingly retracted announcing that this reflects his personal view and not that of the central government. His anti-nuclear stance may be an effort to boost the Japaneses support to the government by taking the general publics attitude toward nuclear power plants. However, his efforts may have backfired. After his pronouncements, he was criticized of directing the country to the unknown due to lack of definite plans as regard to his desire to shift from nuclear power. Some key government officials also distanced themselves from Kans statement due to its serious lack of scientific basis. This shows the extent of how uncoordinated the government is amidst the crisis. Despite the volatile condition of inter-Korea relations, Seoul remains optimistic on the prospects of unification as seen on their advanced efforts to work on a blueprint that will fund it. However, no matter what Seouls intentions are, this may send an impression to the North that it is taking an aggressive stance toward unification (i.e. war tax instead of unification tax). Aside from planning for the establishment of tax scheme to support the hefty price of the unification, Seoul are building international understanding on and support for its unification policies on the North by holding forums on key nations such as the United States and China. President Lee has been making pronouncements that unification is near but there are no apparent signs yet.

17 July 2011

Korea working on details of 'unification tax': official http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/na tion/2011/07/113_91054.html

21 July 2011

Korea to pursue international forums on reunification http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/na tion/2011/07/113_91355.html

21 July 2011

Budget request aims to fix nuclear crisis, freeze nuclear expansion http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY2011072 00282.html

Nonetheless, if the two sides did unite, what will be the roles of its respective allies (i.e, China and the US) considering that these two have less than friendly relations. The two agencies may have contradicting energy policies. The recent announcement of the Minister for environment on keeping the 25% carbon cut was anchored on the utilization of existing and construction of new power plants. Meanwhile, the Japan Atomic Energy Commission seeks to freeze nuclear expansion as manifested in its budget for 2012. It showed less support for advancing Japan's nuclear fuel cycle policy and played down the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor project. In 2008 nuclear power comprises 24% of Japans energy mix; prior to the crisis, it set to be 50% in 2030. At its dependence rate on nuclear power, it may be impossible for Japan to unite the two policies. The recent movement against nuclear plants may only be primarily triggered by the nuclear crisis and not by a lifetime study. The Fukushima Nuclear Incident brought an opportunity to develop technology that will harness renewable sources of energy. Experts have long warned about the dangers and unsuitability of nuclear power on Japan being an earthquake-prone archipelago. However, media downplaying and alleged public opinion manipulation may have drowned these dissenting voices down. Consequently, nuclear plants have become an integral part of the countrys economy and the Japanese lifestyle. There are a lot of concerns, as regard to denuclearization, to be addressed which should make the government think twice on hastily responding to the publics impulse. Among others, the government should contemplate on the potential impact of denuclearization on the countrys economy and the Japanese lifestyle; both are dependent on technology and therefore massive use of energy. Renewable sources of energy have yet to be developed in order to support possible denuclearization policies.

22 July 2011

Minister vows to keep Japan's 25% carbon cut pledge despite disaster http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgibin/nn20110722a6.html

30 July 2011

Nagasaki peace declaration to promote renewable energy http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY2011072 90335.html

31 July 2011

Cabinet recommends cutting nuclear reactors http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY2011073 00234.html

Further, there is no law on decommissioning nuclear plants. Overhauling the countries nuclear power polices may prove to be distasteful to influential utilities and labor unions which have helped the Kan Administration to survive. To fully denuclearize Japan at this point may be a grand objective, a painful task, and more than a lifetime journey for the proponents. But after the nuclear crisis, all are seem to be willing to endure the pain though no one knows how long.