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ICRC East Asia chief praises Korea's role in humanitarian efforts

Published: 31 May. 2024, 06:00 Updated: 24 Jun. 2024, 17:00

SEO JI-EUN
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Balthasar Staehelin, personal envoy of the President for China and head of the Regional Delegation for East Asia at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), speaks during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily to discuss the organization's missions in East Asia, Korea's role in international humanitarian aid and its operation plans in Pyongyang at the ICRC's Korean office in central Seoul on May 22. [PARK SANG-MOON]

[INTERVIEW]

As Israel's military campaign in Palestine surpasses seven months, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)'s East Asia chief emphasizes South Korea's potential to bolster global humanitarian efforts through its technological prowess and increased official development assistance (ODA) amid global cutbacks.

South Korea, renowned for its technological innovation with giants like Samsung and LG, stands at the forefront of advancing initiatives such as the digital matching of missing persons during armed conflicts, says Balthasar Staehelin, the personal envoy of the ICRC president to China and head of the Regional Delegation for East Asia.

Beyond its technological advancements, South Korea's interests in humanitarian efforts, particularly in protecting women and combating sexual violence, demonstrate its alignment with international humanitarian law, added Staehelin. This set of rules, primarily promoted and strengthened by the ICRC, aims to balance legitimate military action with the humanitarian objective of reducing human suffering, especially among civilians.

"Korea, at the intersection between technology and ethics, can provide a lot of helpful impetus [both] at the levels of policy and at technological solutions," Staehelin said in a recent interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Headquartered in Geneva, the ICRC is an independent humanitarian organization rooted in the Geneva Conventions, dedicated to protecting and supporting victims of armed conflicts and promoting adherence to international humanitarian law. Recently, the ICRC unveiled a field hospital with 60 beds in the Gaza Strip as most hospitals in Palestine remain shuttered due to the ongoing military operations, with those still operational struggling to meet demand.

While the ICRC's operational focus spans conflict zones like Israel and Gaza, its East Asia offices, including those in Beijing and Seoul, prioritize humanitarian diplomacy and the principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality, aiming to foster support for international humanitarian law among regional governments.

However, challenges persist in North Korea, where all international staff from organizations, including the ICRC, were evacuated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the absence of an on-ground presence, the ICRC maintains communication with local staff and the DPRK Red Cross and is poised to resume full operations once circumstances permit. This ongoing engagement ensures the ICRC remains abreast of the humanitarian situation in North Korea, poised to provide essential aid at the earliest opportunity.

"We have, of course, a readiness to go back and look at the situation and reconnect with the reality [of North Korea]," Staehelin said. "But for the time being, there is no date fixed as to when the authorities of DPRK would invite international actors back to Pyongyang."

Staehelin made his second visit to Korea as a speaker for the Swiss-Korean Innovation Week 2024. Additionally, he engaged in discussions with the Korean National Defense University and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during his visit.

The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Staehelin at ICRC's Korean office in central Seoul on May 22 to discuss the organization's missions in East Asia, Korea's role in international humanitarian aid and its operation plans in Pyongyang.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Balthasar Staehelin, personal envoy of the President for China and head of the Regional Delegation for East Asia at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), poses for a photo during an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at the ICRC's Korean office in central Seoul on May 22. [PARK SANG-MOON]

What are the ICRC's main missions in East Asia? The 1950-53 Korean War officially ended in a ceasefire, not a peace treaty. Given South Korea's economic prosperity and military strength, what role can the ICRC play in the country?

The ICRC office in Beijing covers China, the DPRK, South Korea, and Mongolia. In East Asia, much of our work involves connecting with governments and authorities to promote international humanitarian law. We aim to garner support from the countries covered by the regional delegation.

While we have operational delegations in conflict zones like Israel and Gaza, our East Asia delegations, while not operational due to the absence of active conflicts, are more focused on humanitarian diplomacy. This involves diplomatic efforts such as in Beijing, Moscow and Washington, where we promote international humanitarian law and humanitarian action according to principles of neutrality, independence, and impartiality.

We also absorb new perspectives and innovations from East Asia, understanding how the world is perceived from different regions to better navigate a pathway to protect people affected by armed conflict, in line with our principles and mandate.

How can South Korea contribute to international humanitarian aid efforts? What can it do with regard to situations of armed conflict around the world, including Gaza?

South Korea’s unique position at the intersection of technology and ethics allows it to contribute significantly at both the policy and technological levels.

South Korea is home to leading technology companies and is a hub of innovation, making it an ideal place to discuss digital trust and innovation. For example, in the digital matching of missing persons, where imprecise information is common, artificial intelligence and machine learning can help calculate probabilities and locate people. South Korea’s technological expertise can further develop such initiatives.

Korea also shows great interest in upholding international humanitarian law, which protects civilians and maintains humanity during armed conflicts. The country is particularly focused on protecting women and fighting sexual and gender-based violence. It is crucial to uphold international humanitarian law to prevent damage in the first place, rather than just responding to it. South Korea's diplomatic efforts play a strong role in advocating for these protective norms.

In a world where many countries are reducing their ODA budgets, Korea has increased its ODA budget by 31.1 percent from last year to this year. This sends a powerful message of commitment to global aid.

What is the current status of the ICRC's office in Pyongyang?

We do not currently have international staff in Pyongyang. We still have a small team of local staff and maintain regular contact with them and the Red Cross Society of DPRK. This network allows us to stay informed about the situation. We are ready to return and reconnect when the authorities allow international actors back, but there is no fixed date for this.

While there is ongoing dialogue, it is difficult to predict any changes in the policy at this stage.

How does the use of AI in Israel’s military operations in Gaza differ from the use of new technology in battlefields? What are your thoughts on Israel's claim that AI helps reduce civilian casualties?

We believe we cannot delegate the decision to kill to machines or software, as international humanitarian law requires distinctions between civilian and military targets. There is an inherent difficulty in predicting and understanding how AI-driven systems reach their conclusions. Conflicts are chaotic, and the lack of quality data can lead to overtrust or bias in these systems.

The lawfulness of an attack cannot be delegated to machines and must be verified by humans. Humans must be given sufficient time to make qualitative assessments of the targeting process. The human element must remain to ensure credible and responsible decisions, respecting international humanitarian law. AI should support, not replace, human judgment in warfare. While the trend of AI in warfare may be unstoppable, it is crucial to ensure these systems minimize damage to protected persons or critical infrastructures.

BY SEO JI-EUN [[email protected]]