National security experts from 54 countries at the 2022 Seoul Defense Dialogue on Sept. 6 listen to a speech at Lotte Hotel in Seoul's Jung-gu District. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Eun-young

National security experts from 54 countries have gathered in Seoul to discuss joint responses to international security threats.

The Ministry of National Defense said it is hosting the 10th annual Seoul Defense Dialogue from Sept. 6-8 at Lotte Hotel in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

This high-level multilateral dialogue was launched in 2012 to contribute to peace on the Korean Peninsula and boost security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 54 participating countries include the U.S., Japan, China and Germany, along with national security officials and private-level national security experts from Korea and abroad from the United Nations, European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Under the theme "How to Address Complex Security Challenges: Fostering International Solidarity," the conference seeks a joint response to the global security environment plagued by the threat of war and transnational and multiregional challenges.

On its first day on Sept. 6, the conference will evaluate cooperation in online and space security via the cyber and space security working groups and discuss global cooperation measures.

Deputy Minister of National Defense for Policy Heo Tae-keun will participate in the cyber working group and propose transnational sharing and a joint response to recent illegal activity by specific countries and groups in cyberspace.

National Security Office Director Kim Sung-han and Dutch Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren on Sept. 7 will give a joint keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

Vice Minister of National Defense Shin Beom-chul on the same day will hold a meeting with delegates from Korea's four Asia-Pacific partners on cooperation methods to continue the momentum of strengthening solidarity to protect the values and norms formed by their talks in June on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

The ministry said, "The Seoul Security Dialogue will not only promote global security cooperation but also serve as an opportunity to stimulate defense exchange and cooperation with each country through in-person discussions, which have been stagnant due to the COVID-19 pandemic."

eykim86@korea.kr