Seoul to Host Twenty-Fifth Republic of Korea–United Nations Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Issues, 12–13 November
SEOUL, 12 November (Office for Disarmament Affairs) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs will convene the twenty-fifth Republic of Korea-United Nations Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Issues in Seoul on 12 and 13 November. The Conference will mark 25 years of partnership and examine how artificial intelligence (AI) is shaping disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control.
The rapid development and integration of AI into civilian and military applications is creating profound implications for international peace and security, including disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control. While AI offers opportunities to strengthen monitoring, verification and early warning capabilities, its military applications also introduce new risks, potentially hastening decision-making, undermining human control and increasing the likelihood of miscalculation and unintended escalation.
Yeondoo Jeong, Vice-Minister for Strategy and Intelligence of the Republic of Korea, and Izumi Nakamitsu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, are scheduled to deliver opening remarks. The two-day meeting brings together representatives of Governments, international organizations and experts from academia, civil society and industry. The meeting is being prepared by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Asia-Pacific Regional Centre.
The conference’s theme of “The Cross-Cutting Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Arms Control” will consider how AI could improve monitoring, verification and threat detection. It will also examine how its use in military systems could shorten the time available for human judgement, amplify unreliable information and increase the risk of miscalculation or unintended escalation.
Sessions will address nuclear risk, the implications of AI for the prohibition of chemical and biological weapons, cybersecurity and the use of AI in conventional military operations, including in targeting and autonomous functions. A dedicated session will feature young researchers, practitioners and youth representatives, and explore how multilateral discussions can respond to these developments. This session on next-generation perspectives reflects the Conference’s recognition that young people must have a meaningful role in shaping disarmament policy and practical efforts to address the risks posed by emerging technologies.
The discussion will also consider how risks can be addressed through existing disarmament frameworks, and where gaps require further cooperation. Participants will explore practical measures, including testing and evaluation, human oversight, transparency, confidence-building and capacity-building to anticipate and reduce risks before they lead to a crisis.
Established in 2001, the Conference provides a forum for dialogue on emerging disarmament and non-proliferation challenges.