(c) Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Regional Meeting of National Authorities of States Parties in Asia on the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is being held in Seoul from September 1 to 3.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and organized by the Korea Chemical Industry Association (KCIA), the meeting brings together about 80 participants, including officials from the OPCW Technical Secretariat and representatives of national authorities from Asian countries.

The Chemical Weapons Convention is an international treaty that prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and mandates the destruction of existing stockpiles. Each state party designates and operates a national authority for the domestic implementation of the convention. At this annual meeting, parties from the Asian region share their experiences in domestic CWC implementation and discuss ways to enhance regional cooperation and capacity building. This year, the meeting focuses particularly on response strategies for chemical security amid the advancement of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).

Ha Wi-young, Director-General for International Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated during the opening ceremony on September 1 that the CWC has established itself over the past 30 years as a core pillar of the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime and as a universal norm against chemical weapons. He emphasized that as the global chemical industry rapidly changes due to scientific and technological advancements, the role of national authorities for the effective implementation of the convention is becoming even more crucial.

Since the entry into force of the CWC, South Korea has continuously served as an OPCW Executive Council member and actively participated in implementing the convention. By hosting the "OPCW Seoul Workshop" annually since 2012, South Korea has also supported Asian state parties in strengthening their capacity for the peaceful use of chemicals and ensuring the effective implementation of the CWC.

This marks the first time that the Regional Meeting of National Authorities in Asia is being held in Seoul. It is expected that this meeting will serve as an opportunity to expand South Korea's contributions and further strengthen cooperation among regional national authorities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to continue actively participating in international efforts to realize a world free of chemical weapons and to sustain international cooperation for the effective implementation of the CWC.

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