Ministry of Foreign Affairs and OSCE Conference Highlights International Cooperation on New Technology Security

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 27th that, on the 26th (local time), it co-hosted the "3rd Korea-OSCE New Technology Security Conference" with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, Austria. Approximately 150 government and private sector experts on new technology security from Europe and Asia participated both online and offline.

Cho Gurae, Director-General for Foreign Strategy and Information at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized in a video message during the opening ceremony that "as security linkages between the Europe and Indo-Pacific regions deepen today, building trust through interregional cooperation is essential for effectively responding to new technology security threats." He also noted, "On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the OSCE founding agreement (Helsinki Final Act) this year, I appreciate that the OSCE has continued discussions on international cooperation in the field of new technologies with key partners such as Korea, and we will continue to work with the OSCE to address transnational new security threats in the future."

This conference featured sessions on: ▲ opportunities and challenges in the military security sector arising from new technological developments ▲ a panel discussion on the economic and social impacts of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven information manipulation ▲ challenges to and response measures for critical infrastructure.

The participants agreed on the need to establish "international norms" before the military application of new technologies. They also expressed concerns about the increasing sophistication of information manipulation due to recent advances in AI technology, and called for the establishment of response systems such as strengthening digital resilience and building trust between countries.

Discussions were also held on complex security threats targeting critical infrastructure. Yoon Jongkwon, Director-General for International Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in a keynote speech delivered via video, "Recently, physical and cyber threats to critical infrastructure have been increasing," and added, "It is necessary to secure resilience and enhance international cooperation in response."