Regular Implementation of Korea-US Cyber Defense Exercises

It appears that South Korea and the United States will conduct regular joint cyber defense exercises in the future. The U.S. has proposed South Korea's regular participation in the U.S. cyber defense exercise called 'Cyber Flag.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 10th, the South Korean and U.S. Ministries of National Defense discussed this matter at the 8th Korea-U.S. Defense Cyber Policy Working Group (CCWG) meeting held in Seoul on the 8th and 9th.

'Cyber Flag,' hosted by the U.S. Cyber Command, has been held annually since 2011 to strengthen allied and partner nations' joint cyber readiness and partnerships. South Korea participated for the first time last October in an exercise involving 25 countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The U.S. side promised to "positively consider" South Korea's proposal for regular participation in Cyber Flag, the Ministry of National Defense reported. The two countries also reviewed preparations for a cyber exercise to be conducted for the first time between their respective Cyber Operations Commands. The timing of the exercise has not been finalized. The purpose of the exercise is to enhance the alliance's cyber threat readiness and joint operational capabilities. South Korea and the U.S. recently shared information on cyber threats and provocations, as well as hacker organizations, and agreed to continue cooperation for joint responses. They also agreed to exchange experiences and know-how regarding the acquisition of defense cyber specialists, establishment of systematic training foundations, and cyber personnel policies.

Additionally, South Korea, as a co-chair nation of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Cybersecurity Sub-Working Group, shared the ADMM-Plus cyber exercise plan scheduled for November with the U.S. It also requested U.S. cooperation for the success of the 'Seoul Defense Dialogue' Cyber Working Group event to be held in October.

At this meeting, Choi Byung-ok, Director General of Defense Policy at the Ministry of National Defense, served as the chief representative for South Korea, while Mika Oeng, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Cyber Policy, was the chief representative for the U.S. This was the first in-person CCWG meeting between the two countries in four years. Previously, meetings were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.