90 Countries Gather in Seoul… Presenting a ‘Blueprint’ for International Norms for Using AI in Warfare

Representatives from some 90 countries gathered in Seoul to establish international norms related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in war and military fields. As seen in the two recent wars between Ukraine and Russia and Israel and Hamas, the use of AI-based military technology is becoming more advanced, and there is a recognition that indiscriminate use that can spread civilian casualties is necessary, and that international guidelines are needed.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense announced that the ‘2024 High-level Meeting on the Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence (REAIM)’ was held at the Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 9th. The meeting, which will be held until the 10th, was attended by government representatives and 1,000 VIPs from 90 countries, including co-hosts such as the Netherlands, Singapore, Kenya, and the UK. Invitations were also sent to Ukraine, Israel, and Palestine. However, Russia, which invaded Ukraine, was not invited.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yeol said, “The military use of AI can drive military innovation while also bringing about various challenges,” and “In order to protect both international peace and security and human dignity, it is important to establish norms and global governance for the responsible use of AI.”

Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun also emphasized in his welcoming speech that “Although AI has dramatically improved the military’s operational capabilities as it has been applied to the military, it also has the characteristic of being a double-edged sword that can cause serious damage if misused.” He added, “A balanced understanding of the responsible use of AI in the military and cooperation from the international community are needed.”

REAIM is an international multilateral conference involving governments, industries, and international organizations that was launched to understand the impact of AI military use on international peace and to contribute to the formation of international norms. It was first held in The Hague, Netherlands, last year.

As AI has been increasingly used in battlefields, there have been voices suggesting that the international community needs guidelines to follow. In fact, AI has been increasingly used in the Russian-Ukrainian war and in the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas. In these battlefields, AI-based autonomous drones that move without the control of human soldiers have appeared to neutralize enemy tanks and also use AI analysis systems to plan operations to attack enemy bases or units.

In reality, AI-based military technology is turning into lethal weapons, so there is a high possibility that any mismanagement could spread civilian casualties and become a decisive factor in changing the course of war. In addition, the US and China are accelerating the development of AI weapons. The US successfully conducted a test flight of an AI-equipped unmanned fighter jet last August, and China is also accelerating its development with the goal of overcoming its comparatively inferior military power to the US with AI-based weapons.

The government delegations from each country are scheduled to adopt a document on the 10th, which will serve as the basis for establishing AI standards in the military sector. At the first REAIM meeting last year, the government delegations from 61 countries also adopted a “joint call for action” to continue international discussions on AI in the military sector. However, this was a declaration and did not present a specific code of conduct. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the document to be adopted this time is not binding, but it is significant in forming public opinion on the military use of AI. The results of this meeting are expected to be discussed at the UN General Assembly in October.

Starting with REAIM, this week will be a series of military diplomacy-related meetings. The 2nd ROK-UNC Member State Defense Ministers’ Meeting will be held on the 10th at the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul. The ROK-UNC Defense Ministers’ Meeting was first held in Seoul last year to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, and the participating countries decided to regularize the meeting. This year’s meeting will be attended by representatives from 18 UNC member states, including the German Deputy Minister of Defense, who newly joined the UNC in August. In addition, the annual vice-ministerial-level multilateral meeting, the ‘2024 Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD)’, to be held on the 11th and 12th, will be attended by approximately 900 people from 68 countries and international organizations.

Reporter Ku Hyeon-mo lil@segye.com

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