Kim Sun-ho, the Deputy Minister of National Defense, emphasized the need for military and civilian collaboration in the development and deployment of Defense AI (AX). He argued that the focus should extend beyond merely integrating AI into existing weapon systems to fundamentally changing the nature of warfare and operational execution.
Recently appointed as a senior management advisor at Naver in August, Kim spoke on September 18 at the Defense AI Day seminar held at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, addressing the topic of 'The Essence of Defense AX from a Military Perspective.'
Citing the Russia-Ukraine war, Kim highlighted how AI is not only transforming weapon systems but also altering the conduct of warfare. He noted that as drones evolve into AI-connected combat systems, troop deployment and frontline operations are changing.
Kim pointed out the significance of data and connectivity systems established by the private sector in battlefield applications. He stated, "The essence of Defense AX is not merely to introduce a new system but to change our methods of conducting warfare and operations through it."
He stressed that the approach to military-civilian cooperation must also evolve to effectively promote Defense AX. He indicated that relying solely on traditional military-civilian collaboration would be insufficient, asserting that both sectors must work together from the identification of needs to the deployment and operational use. Kim stated, "Military and civilian entities must collaboratively address issues from the identification of needs to deployment and actual operations on the ground."
Additionally, Kim cautioned that military AI transition hubs should not remain mere research spaces. He argued that AI must be trained to understand the characteristics of the South Korean military and its adversaries, as well as the terrain and operational methods, and that there should be a verification environment and acquisition system in place.
While acknowledging the growing role of AI, he emphasized that final judgments should remain with humans. He explained that AI can analyze battlefield data to predict enemy actions and suggest the likelihood of success, potential damage, and required time for various responses.
Kim concluded by asserting that the ultimate goal of Defense AX should not be the mere introduction of new systems but rather a tangible enhancement of military capability. He stressed that military and civilian sectors must work together from the identification of needs to deployment and field operations, proving that these changes lead to actual military strength enhancement.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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