Julia Brock and James Andrew Lewis
On the seventieth anniversary of the U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) alliance, the leaders of the two countries declared that the Mutual Defense Treaty applies to cyberspace. The United States and South Korea agreed to expand the scope of the agreement and promote cooperation in cybersecurity technologies, policies, and strategies, including cyber threat information sharing.
The United States and the ROK have significantly strengthened their cybersecurity cooperation in recent years. South Korea’s membership in NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defense Centre of Excellence laid the groundwork for enhanced information sharing, joint exercises, and the development of shared standards. The U.S.-ROK Cybersecurity Working Group, established in 2022, has focused on strengthening mechanisms for collaboration and joint defense, as well as defensive strategies. Both countries have also emphasized the importance of international partnerships in addressing cyber threats posed by authoritarian states. The U.S.-ROK Strategic Cybersecurity Cooperation Framework, signed in April 2023, further solidified this commitment by increasing information sharing and joint response efforts.
Washington and Seoul are actively engaged in countering cyber threats, particularly those from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI), the U.S.-ROK-Japan Trilateral Summit, and the ROK’s 2024 National Cybersecurity Strategy each highlight the shared goal of disrupting the DPRK’s malicious cyber activities and protecting critical infrastructure. Recent memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between the United States and the ROK have further strengthened cooperation in areas such as computer emergency response team communications and supply chain resilience.
Current Cooperation Structures
The overarching structure for the U.S.-ROK alliance is the 2023 Strategic Cooperation and Coordination Framework (SCCF). The SCCF provides a diplomatic mechanism to facilitate discussions between the two countries on a range of issues, particularly those concerning security, military cooperation, and regional challenges. The SCCF aims to enhance bilateral coordination, improve strategic alignment, and address concerns related to the Korean Peninsula, North Korea, and other regional security matters.
No comments:
Post a Comment