Closing Remarks by H.E. Park Jin 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea

Responsible AI in the Military Domain Summit (REAIM) 

February 16, 2023

Hello everyone, 

My name is Park Jin, 

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea. 

I would like to extend my gratitude to the Netherlands 

for their exceptional leadership 

in organizing the REAIM Summit 

and for their gracious hospitality. 

The Hague - known as the 

'International City of Peace and Justice’ – 

provides the ideal setting for this important gathering.

More than 40 sessions were held yesterday 

with an impressive number of people 

from more than 80 countries 

to discuss military applications of AI and its implications.

And I have the feeling 

that all of us agree 

that the impact of AI on our lives are so significant 

that no country is free 

from the current challenges that we face.

When I think of Artificial Intelligence(AI), 

like many of you, 

the movie Terminator comes to mind. 

As you know, the film is about stopping 

the rise of a dangerous AI system called Skynet 

to safeguard the future of humanity. 

It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of AI 

and its potential unintended consequences

which many participants today pointed out.

The REAIM Summit 

marks a significant step in raising global awareness 

about these potential risks 

and the importance of developing and using AI 

responsibly.

Over the past two days, 

we had productive discussions 

with experts from diverse backgrounds 

on the opportunities and challenges presented by AI. 

With the wisdom gained from the conference, 

we should proceed and act 

to prevent wrong uses of AI in the military domain. 

Because AI is evolving rapidly, 

we must prepare and act before it is too late. 

This is all the more important especially for Korea, 

which is facing a real threat from North Korea

in terms of escalating weapons of mass destruction program,

including nuclear and missile threats.

The challenge of controlling the military application 

of AI is different from what we did 

in the past. 

One major difference is that AI 

is primarily about invisible software, 

not visible hardware. 

Another challenge is the potential tension 

between those who already have AI technologies 

and those who do not. 

AI is closely tied to our daily lives and economy, 

so there will be natural reservations 

to any controlling mechanism that prevents latecomers 

from developing their own AI technology. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

As a leading Asian nation in AI development, 

Republic of Korea recognizes the significance 

of pursuing meaningful dialogue on this topic. 

This also aligns with the 

Yoon Suk-yeol Government’s priority 

to establish a digital order 

that promotes freedom, solidarity, and human rights.  

Therefore, Korea is committed to 

securing political attention to the issue and 

promoting international discussions.

We will prioritize facilitating dialogue 

among relevant stakeholders - including governments, 

the private sector, civil society, and academia. 

In doing so, we will build on our experiences 

from hosting the Conference on Cyberspace, 

and the Nuclear Security Summit, 

which we organized together with the Netherlands 

and the United States.

To this end, we plan to delve into 

the implications of AI on global peace and security 

at the annual World Emerging Security Forum 

hosted by Korea later this year. 

And more importantly, 

Korea is proud to announce that it will host

the 2nd REAIM Summit in Korea in cooperation with the Netherlands.

Let me close by saying 

that the responsible military use of AI 

is not just a technical matter, but a political one 

that requires the attention and commitment of all of us.  

Therefore, I would like to encourage our partners 

to join us in supporting 

the REAIM Summit’s Call to Action.

Korea also appreciates the efforts of the United States 

to develop a political declaration 

that promotes best practices. 

We must continue to work together 

to ensure this issue remains a priority 

on our political agenda.

Once again, I would like to thank all of you 

for your active engagement and contributions.  

Thank you very much.