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Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
NZ and ROK should work together on AI issues
Co-operation between Korea and New Zealand on AI is essential Choontae Park writes. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has now emerged as a key force, not only for technological innovation, but also as a variable that will shape the future of human civilisation. As of 2025, AI is actively integrated into nearly every field — daily life, industry, economy, education, healthcare and beyond. However, the changes brought by AI are not entirely positive. Challenges such as job displacement, invasion of privacy, deepening social inequality and ethical dilemmas lie ahead. These are complex issues that cannot be resolved by any single nation alone, as the impact of AI transcends national borders and spreads globally. Therefore, international co-operation and close alliances are more important than ever. The declaration announced at the 3rd AI Smart Forum held in Seoul on May 16 provided important direction for the future of AI. It emphasised AI was "not a replacement for humans, but a collaborator in building the future". It also asserted that technology could not "be completed by science alone; true civilisation [was] only possible when accompanied by humanistic reflection and philosophy." The declaration clearly stated that AI should enrich human life and contribute to world peace and universal values. This message offers profound insights into the path that Korea and New Zealand should walk together in the AI era. Korea has been experiencing rapid growth in the AI field on a global scale. In December 2023, the Korean National Assembly passed the Basic Act on Artificial Intelligence, one of the world's first comprehensive AI laws. This law institutionalises the transparency, safety and ethical use of AI. Korea is taking the lead in shaping international norms through collaboration. It continues to pursue a balance between technological innovation and ethical responsibility, ensuring that AI development earns public trust and accountability. Meanwhile, New Zealand emphasises inclusive and sustainable AI development through its AI Blueprint for Aotearoa New Zealand (2020) and the Algorithm Charter for Aotearoa New Zealand (introduced in 2020). The country's AI policies prioritise core values such as human rights, diversity, inclusion, transparency, safety and accountability. Notably, New Zealand places indigenous data sovereignty, welfare and the protection of minority rights at the heart of its AI policies. This approach ensures that AI does not harm any specific group and earns broad public trust and participation. Korea and New Zealand possess complementary strengths in their AI strategies: Korea excels in technological innovation and policy leadership, while New Zealand offers a strong human-rights-centred and inclusive approach. There are clear reasons why the two countries should collaborate. First, to strengthen ethical standards and humanistic reflection in AI. By jointly promoting AI research and education that combine science, humanities and philosophy, we can ensure that AI does not undermine human dignity or social values. Second, to build a global AI governance system together. To address risks such as algorithmic bias and privacy infringement, the two nations must collaborate in international organisations and multilateral forums. Third, to create an inclusive AI ecosystem. Korea and New Zealand should work to increase participation by women, indigenous peoples and minorities in AI development, and share policies that guarantee data sovereignty and fairness. Fourth, joint research and standardisation are essential to secure public trust. Only AI that citizens can trust will achieve broad social acceptance. Fifth, AI should be actively applied to realise social values. Collaborative projects should focus on addressing global issues such as climate change, public health, welfare and education. Korea and New Zealand have already laid the groundwork for diverse AI co-operation. Going forward, the two countries should deepen their partnership in the following ways: conducting joint research and develop policies in AI ethics and governance; collaborating in the creation of international AI standards and actively participating in global regulatory discussions; and expanding AI education and talent exchange programmes to help nurture global AI leaders from the younger generation. The countries should also develop and implement inclusive AI policies that protect vulnerable populations and guarantee data rights and promote joint projects in areas like climate action, healthcare, welfare and education using AI. Ultimately, AI must enrich human life and help achieve global peace and shared values. Technology is not completed by science alone — true civilisation is possible only when paired with reflection and philosophy. By pursuing a harmonious blend of innovation, ethics, inclusion, trust and international co-operation, Korea and New Zealand can become exemplary partners in the AI era. — Dr Choontae Park is a former university dean who now lives in New Zealand.
NDTV
26-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"If You Hit Us, We Will Hit Back": Team Nitish Leader On Op Sindoor
Seoul: An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, met with Yun Ho-jung, Chairperson of the Korea-India Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Korean National Assembly. During the meeting, the delegation briefed him on 'Operation Sindoor' and reiterated India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, emphasising the need to hold accountable not just terrorists but also those who support them. Sharing a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Seoul wrote, "The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Hon'ble MP Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jha, met Mr. Yun Ho-jung, Chairperson of the Korea-India Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Korean National Assembly and briefed him on #OperationSindoor. The delegation reiterated India's firm zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, and the position of making no distinction between terrorist and country supporting terrorists, and sought RoK's support for bringing terrorist organisers, perpetrators, and financiers of terrorism to justice." The post added, "Chairperson Yun conveyed that any act of terrorism is unacceptable and cannot be justified, and that there should be no sacrifice of innocent lives by terrorism and reaffirmed RoK's strong stand against terrorism." A day earlier, while addressing the Indian community in Seoul, Mr Jha highlighted India's firm stance against terrorism and reiterated the country's new normal against terrorism - "If you hit us, we will hit you back." Mr Jha also hailed Operation Sindoor, under which terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) was hit with precision. Mr Jha-led delegation on Sunday also held a meeting with the Ambassador of India to South Korea, Amit Kumar, at the Indian Embassy in Seoul. The delegation also includes Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) MP John Brittas, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, BJP MP Brij Lal, BJP MP Pradan Baruah, Ambassador Mohan Kumar, and BJP MP Hemang Joshi. The visit marks a continuation of Operation Sindoor, India's diplomatic outreach following the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam. Op Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"India will no longer distinguish between terrorists and their sponsors": JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha
Seoul [South Korea], May 26 (ANI): JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on Monday called out Pakistan's long-standing role in sponsoring cross-border terror. Highlighting the killing of 26 tourists in Kashmir on April 22, Jha underscored that the attackers were trained, financed, and sheltered by Pakistan. The all-party delegation led by Jha who is South Korea also met with think-tanks in Seoul. 'Yesterday, India became the fourth-largest economy in the world. We surpassed Japan. We are the largest democratic country. The Government of India has sent seven delegations to different countries across the world to apprise them about what happened in Kashmir on April 22 where 26 innocent tourists were gunned down in front of their families on religious lines, 25 Indians and one Nepali,' Jha said Emphasising India's shift in approach under Operation Sindoor, he made it clear that India will no longer distinguish between terrorists and the countries that support them. Jha said, 'All (the terrorists) came from Pakistan. Pakistan trained them, financed them, gave them shelter. It has been the state policy of Pakistan to sponsor terrorism for the last 40 years. If you have seen or read the Sky interview of Khwaja Sharif, the Pakistan Defence Minister, he admitted that we have been doing this dirty work for the last 30 years...' He added, 'The Republic of Korea is important to us as the country is a member of the UNSC. At UNSC, the world should unite to fight against terrorism... We can't change our neighbour and the way they are behaving, India changed its policy. We launched Operation Sindoor. Now it's a new normal in India. If something happens, we will not differentiate between the terrorists and the country that sponsors terrorists.' Earlier in the day, Sanjay Kumar Jha met with Yun Ho-jung, Chairperson of the Korea-India Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Korean National Assembly. During the meeting, the delegation briefed him on 'Operation Sindoor' and reiterated India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, emphasising the need to hold accountable not just terrorists but also those who support them. Sharing a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Seoul wrote, 'The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Hon'ble MP Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jha, met Mr. Yun Ho-jung, Chairperson of the Korea-India Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Korean National Assembly and briefed him on #OperationSindoor. The delegation reiterated India's firm zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, and the position of making no distinction between terrorist and country supporting terrorists, and sought RoK's support for bringing terrorist organisers, perpetrators, and financiers of terrorism to justice.' The post added, 'Chairperson Yun conveyed that any act of terrorism is unacceptable and cannot be justified, and that there should be no sacrifice of innocent lives by terrorism and reaffirmed RoK's strong stand against terrorism.' On Sunday, the Jha-led delegation also held a meeting with the Ambassador of India to South Korea, Amit Kumar, at the Indian Embassy in Seoul. The delegation also includes Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) MP John Brittas, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, BJP MP Brij Lal, BJP MP Pradan Baruah, Ambassador Mohan Kumar, and BJP MP Hemang Joshi. The visit marks a continuation of Operation Sindoor, India's diplomatic outreach following the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI)
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
All party delegation meets political leaders in Seoul, says Pakistan a habitual offender
Seoul [South Korea], May 26 (ANI): An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, headed by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, met with Korean political leaders and think-tanks in Seoul on Monday, intensifying India's diplomatic outreach following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The visit is part of a coordinated effort involving Indian MPs from multiple parties, aiming to highlight the global threat of terrorism and seek stronger international support for India's stance. During a session with Korean scholars and policy experts, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, speaking as part of the delegation, made a passionate appeal reflecting the anger and resolve of the Indian people. 'We are concerned. We are not only hurt by what happened in Pahalgam on April 22, we are also extremely angry, and we want to generate that anger and discontentment in each one of you. That is the very purpose of our visit of 59 people to these 33 countries. This has been a very well thought-out exercise by the Government of India. We chose your country because you are extremely important to us, and you are a member of the UNSC.' Sarangi further explained that India had selected three categories of countries for this global outreach - permanent and non-permanent members of the UNSC, as well as other nations with significant influence in world affairs. She went on to describe the Pahalgam incident: 'Ladies and gentlemen, on April 22 at Pahalgam, one of the most beautiful sites in the country, 26 innocent tourists were gunned down in front of their wives and kids. Nothing can be more heinous than this, nothing can be more deplorable than this, and nothing can be more condemnable than this.' Sarangi also spoke firmly on Pakistan's role, saying, 'Pakistan has been nurturing, nourishing and provoking terrorism. You should have no doubt in your minds. Pakistan has been a habitual offender. I appeal that what should be condemned must be condemned...' Earlier today, the Indian delegation met with Yun Ho-jung, Chairperson of the Korea-India Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Korean National Assembly. The group briefed him on 'Operation Sindoor' and restated India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, stressing the need to hold accountable not only terrorists but also their sponsors. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Seoul stated, 'The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Hon'ble MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, met Yun Ho-jung, Chairperson of the Korea-India Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Korean National Assembly and briefed him on Operation Sindoor. The delegation reiterated India's firm zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, and the position of making no distinction between terrorists and countries supporting terrorists, and sought RoK's support for bringing terrorist organisers, perpetrators, and financiers of terrorism to justice.' Chairperson Yun reaffirmed South Korea's position, stating that any act of terrorism is unacceptable and that the loss of innocent lives can never be justified. A day before, while meeting the Indian community in Seoul, Jha reiterated India's evolving response to terrorism: 'If you hit us, we will hit you back.' He also highlighted the precision of Operation Sindoor, India's latest response targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian delegation, including Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) MP John Brittas, BJP MPs Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, Ambassador Mohan Kumar, and BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, also met the Indian Ambassador to South Korea, Amit Kumar, at the embassy. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a direct response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed. The operation targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The diplomatic initiative led by Jha is part of a broader effort to ensure that the international community takes a united stand against terrorism and holds its perpetrators and sponsors fully accountable. (ANI)
Morocco World
09-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Korea Throws Weight Behind Morocco's Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara
Doha – Korea emphatically endorsed Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara today, hammering another nail in the coffin of Algeria's crumbling separatist agenda. In a comprehensive bilateral relations overview released today, Korea unequivocally backed Morocco's 2007 autonomy initiative as the path forward for resolving the territorial dispute. 'Korea takes note of the Moroccan autonomy proposal presented in April 2007 to the Secretary-General of the UN and welcomes serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward towards a resolution of this issue,' the statement declared. The statement directly referenced language from UN Security Council Resolution 1754, delivering a stinging diplomatic victory for Rabat and another crushing blow to Algiers. Korea's official stance catapults it into Morocco's surging support base. Over 113 countries globally now champion the Autonomy Plan, demolishing Algeria's increasingly isolated position. The diplomatic breakthrough comes amid intensifying Korea-Morocco relations. A flurry of high-level exchanges has cemented bilateral ties, with Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo visiting Rabat in January 2024 and Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo in July 2024. Korean private sector giants have aggressively expanded their Moroccan footprint. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics operate thriving local subsidiaries. Korean automotive parts manufacturers have established production facilities across Morocco. The Korea-Morocco relationship received a massive boost in February when Hyundai Rotem clinched a €1.5 billion megadeal to supply 110 trains to Morocco's National Railway Office (ONCF). Bilateral trade between the nations exploded to approximately $550 million in 2024. Both countries signed a Joint Statement in June 2024 launching exploratory discussions for an Economic Partnership Agreement to further accelerate trade flows. Korea also pays tribute to eight Moroccan veterans who fought valiantly in the Korean War following the decision of King Mohammed V. Seoul and Rabat have forged agreements on climate change cooperation, social security, and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund during the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit. Korea joins the avalanche of countries deserting Algeria's increasingly desperate separatist gambit. Slovenia, Finland, Denmark, and Estonia recently swelled the ranks of the 20-plus EU countries rallying behind Morocco's territorial integrity. 'The only viable path' Algeria's Western Sahara strategy lies in tatters. UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura brutally shattered Algeria's partition dreams during an April Security Council briefing, where he abandoned his October 2024 partition proposal and embraced Morocco's Autonomy Plan as 'the only viable path' forward. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also devastated Algeria's position forcefully reaffirming America's commitment to Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. This renewed US backing came after the original December 2020 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty by the first Trump administration. France has decisively turned against Algeria's machinations, following years of diplomatic tension with Morocco that compelled Paris to move beyond its cost-neutral position. After maintaining deliberate ambiguity since 2007, France is now vowing to mobilize international support for Morocco's autonomy initiative. Algeria now confronts catastrophic diplomatic isolation, made more painful by its current position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, where its diminishing influence has been publicly exposed. Morocco's ambassador to the UN, Omar Hilale, eviscerated Algeria's claims in a scathing April 28 Security Council letter, responding to 'tendentious declarations' made by Algeria's ambassador during a meeting on 'Challenges related to forced displacement worldwide.' Hilale systematically dismantled what he termed 'fallacious and mendacious allegations' about the Sahara situation. Hilale savaged Algeria for its five-decade sequestration of populations in the Tindouf camps since 1975, denying them basic rights and diverting humanitarian aid through its Polisario proxies. His letter detailed how Algeria has entrusted 'jurisdiction, control and management' of these camps to the armed separatist Polisario group, violating international humanitarian law. The Algerian regime stubbornly refuses to allow the UN refugee agency to conduct a census in the Tindouf camps, despite clear Security Council directives issued every year since 2011. This obstruction facilitates systematic humanitarian aid diversion, documented by reports from the European Anti-Fraud Office, the UNHCR Inspector General's Office, and the World Food Programme. Algeria's diplomatic maneuvers have collapsed spectacularly across multiple fronts. Even Russia – its traditional ally and major arms supplier – appears to be reconsidering its position. Moscow has abstained from Security Council votes on Western Sahara resolutions since 2016, and may now be further distancing itself as it prioritizes potential diplomatic agreements to end the Ukraine war, potentially sacrificing the Algerian relationship on the altar of greater geopolitical expediency. Tags: autonomy planmorocco koreaWestern sahara
