Countries pledge to cooperate against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

The 70 PSI supporters and observer countries stressed the need to strengthen cooperation against growing threats related to nuclear and ballistic missile development programs.

A test launch of a short-range ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea.

On May 30, a group of countries supporting the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) reaffirmed their commitment to preventing the transfer of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and related materials.

According to Yonhap news agency, the agreement was reached at a high-level forum on Jeju Island, South Korea, to mark the 20th anniversary of the launch of PSI.

The event was attended by delegates from 70 PSI support countries and observer countries, including the United States, Japan and Australia.

In a joint statement, the forum participants pledged to improve training and capacity building activities to counter WMD proliferation, as well as address challenges posed by emerging technologies and WMD proliferation activities in the context of a changing security environment.

The statement addresses emerging concerns such as WMD proliferation financing activities involving digital currencies, “underground” technology transfer activities, and increasingly sophisticated WMD proliferation tactics that “evade” international law.

PSI member states also noted that emerging technologies such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, could pose additional challenges to counter-WMD proliferation efforts.

The countries also stressed the need to strengthen cooperation against the growing threats related to nuclear and ballistic missile development programs, and committed to developing an action plan to realize the joint statement.

PSI was launched in 2003 under the administration of US President George W. Bush to prevent the trafficking of WMD, WMD delivery systems, and related materials.

PSI holds a high-level political meeting every five years to review and provide guidance for the initiative.

(According to Vietnam+)

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