South Korea to Host Annual International Security Forum Next Week
Quick Look
South Korea will hold the Seoul Defense Dialogue from Monday to Wednesday next week under the theme 'Toward a new coexistence in the age of turbulence,' bringing together about 1,000 personnel from 67 nations to discuss international order, alliance, peace on the Korean Peninsula, maritime order, and cyber and space security, with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi expected to skip the event following his visit to a controversial war shrine.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Seoul Defense Dialogue is an annual multilateral security forum launched in 2012 by South Korea's defense ministry to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and regional security cooperation.
SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will hold an annual international security forum next week to discuss ways for cooperation in the midst of growing uncertainties in the global security environment, the defense ministry said Friday.
The Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), scheduled to run from Monday through Wednesday, will be held under the theme "Toward a new coexistence in the age of turbulence," according to the ministry.
This year's forum is expected to bring together some 1,000 personnel from 67 nations, including the defense chiefs of the Czech Republic, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Uganda.
The event includes three plenary sessions on international order and alliance, and four special sessions involving security experts to discuss a new approach to achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula, and rifts and cooperation in the maritime order.
A working-group discussion on cyber and space security sectors is scheduled to take place Monday.
The ministry said the forum will serve as an opportunity to seek new ways for coexistence in a rapidly changing security environment.
Launched in 2012, the annual forum is a major multilateral security meeting involving senior-level officials, designed to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and security cooperation in the region.
Meanwhile, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi was expected to skip the forum next week, in a move seen as related to his recent visit to a controversial war shrine in Tokyo that drew criticism from Seoul. His predecessor, Gen Kanatani, attended last year's SDD.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The forum will produce discussions on new approaches to peace on the Korean Peninsula and maritime order cooperation.
Likely · Within days
Cyber and space security will be addressed in a working-group discussion on Monday.
Certain · Within days
Open Questions
- What specific outcomes or agreements are expected from this year's forum?
- How will the absence of Japan's defense minister affect bilateral talks?
- What concrete proposals will be discussed in the cyber and space security working group?
