Annual defense forum kicks off with space and cyber security talks

[Courtesy of Ministry of National Defense]

The three-day Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), an annual multilateral security forum hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, kicks off at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in southern Seoul on Tuesday.

Launched in 2012, the annual SDD, now in its 12th iteration, is dedicated to achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula and promoting security cooperation in the region.

The theme for the 2023 forum is “Cooperation and Solidarity for Freedom, Peace, and Prosperity,” and aims to explore ways for the international community to jointly respond to the rapidly changing security environment, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, strategic rivalries between major countries, non-traditional security threats such as climate change, and the recent attack on Israel by Hamas.

The latest SDD will bring together more than 800 high-level security officials and civil experts from 56 countries, and two international organizations, including minister-level officials from Australia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Brunei, and Fiji.

Japan will be represented by Vice Minister of Defense for International Affairs Kiyoshi Serizawa who is scheduled to meet with Korean Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul. This will be the first vice defense ministerial meeting between the two countries since September 2022.

The U.S. attendees include Gen. Paul LaCamera, commander of the United Nations Command/ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, Ambassador to Seoul Philip Goldberg, and Elaine Bunn, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy.

The opening ceremony will take place on Wednesday, the second day of the forum, with opening remarks from Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, followed by a welcome speech by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, a congratulatory speech by Cho Tae-yong, chief of the Office of National Security, and a keynote speech by Ban Ki-moon, former secretary-general of the United Nations.

The plenary sessions following the opening ceremony will address issues such as the North Korean nuclear threat and the international community’s response, cooperation for freedom, peace, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, changes in the global security environment, and ways for international cooperation. Four other special sessions will discuss issues such as maritime security, defense industries, military applications of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and the significance of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement that led to a ceasefire after the Korean War (1950-1953).

The Cyber Working Group Forum and the Space Security Working Group Forum will be held on Tuesday afternoon before the opening ceremony.

The Cyber Working Group Forum is expected to bring together about 180 leading defense cybersecurity experts from 30 countries, including the United States, Germany, and Japan, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Deputy Defense Minister for Policy Heo Tae-keun, who is hosting the forum, will share situational awareness among participating countries regarding transnational cyber threats and propose joint responses to these cyber threats.

Swedish Ambassador to Korea Daniel Wolvén will deliver a keynote speech sharing international cybersecurity issues and relevant Swedish government policies, while emphasizing the importance of building international cooperation and partnerships.

The Cyber Working Group panel discussion, featuring government and private sector experts from Korea, India, Lithuania, and NATO, will discuss the risks and opportunities posed by the military use of generative AI, and how international cooperation can address the cyber threats posed by digital transformation.

The Space Security Working Group Forum will focus on “ensuring sustainable space activities and advancing space security and defense space cooperation,” and will be attended by more than 150 government and private sector experts from 37 countries, including Korea, the United States, Germany, France, and India.

They will raise collective awareness of the changing security environment, including the increased military use of outer space and the associated threats, as well as share policies and strategies. They will also explore ways for international cooperation to ensure sustainable space activities and space security.