[Public Voices] Space Security Threats: National Preparedness Established

New Threats Such as Deployment of Space Nuclear Weapons
Government Fully Revises 'Space Security Work Regulations'
Details Intelligence Production and Protection Activities

Oilseok Oh, Vice President of the Korean Association for Space Security / Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy

Space is no longer a realm of myths and legends but a domain where threats persist and materialize. Threats such as space debris falling, deployment of space nuclear weapons, and space military competition jeopardize national interests and the daily lives of citizens. The threat of space debris has resulted in actual damage, as seen in the International Space Station component fall on March 8, 2024, and the orbital module fall of China's Shenzhou 15 on April 2. In February 2024, the United States warned that Russia plans to deploy satellite-attack nuclear weapons in space and is pushing for a UN Security Council resolution to ban the development of space nuclear weapons. Space security threats have also extended to the space security competition between South and North Korea, with military reconnaissance satellites being launched in rapid succession since 2023.

Although space is rapidly emerging as a new security domain, the binding force of international norms for safe and peaceful use of space remains somewhat limited. In this context, for South Korea to stand shoulder to shoulder with advanced countries, it is necessary to actively pursue diplomatic, defense, and intelligence activities in space, which can be considered a gray area of norms. By producing accurate and timely space intelligence on security threats, it is possible to promote national competitiveness in space.

Therefore, the recent revision of the "Security-Related Space Intelligence Work Regulations" under the jurisdiction of the National Intelligence Service can be seen as South Korea’s proactive policy response to the rapidly changing space environment. On April 23, 2024, the government fully revised the regulation as the "Space Security Work Regulations (Presidential Decree No. 34434)" and stipulated specific matters related to space intelligence activities. Notably, the regulation distinguishes "space security work" into "security-related space intelligence work" and "space intelligence security work," concretizing related intelligence production and protection activities. The "security-related space intelligence work" includes intelligence collection, space threat response, and cryptographic technology development, securing the basis for activities to protect national space assets from external space threats. Additionally, the regulation established the National Space Security Center and designated specialized research institutions, preparing cooperation mechanisms with external organizations and technology acquisition plans necessary for performing space security tasks.

The "Space Security Work Regulations" provide a fundamental framework that enables the National Intelligence Service to actively respond to security threats in outer space. It also serves as a cooperation mechanism to fill security gaps that may arise during the development, operation, and utilization of space assets and the Space Aviation Agency, in accordance with the national space policy, the "4th Basic Plan for Space Development Promotion." In other words, it clearly establishes the role of the national intelligence agency based on inter-ministerial cooperation and communication for the "establishment of national space security."

At a time when international norms related to enhancing stability in space lack strong binding force, the implementation of the "Space Security Work Regulations" is truly fortunate. Through this regulation, a national preparedness posture against new space security threats has been established. It is hoped that, based on this regulation, the National Intelligence Service will strengthen continuous cooperative activities with the Space Aviation Agency and execute more proactive space intelligence activities to secure national space security competitiveness.

Oh Il-seok, Vice President of the Korean Space Security Society / Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy