Seoul, South Korea―Two prestigious think tanks, one based in South Korea and the other in the United States, convened in Seoul on Thursday to explore the current state of the cyber landscape in the Indo-Pacific region amidst shifting geopolitical power dynamics.
On June 27, the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, in collaboration with the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), hosted a Cybersecurity Forum in Seoul, drawing dozens of in-person participants. Both organizations are renowned as independent and non-partisan think tanks, wielding significant influence in shaping policy strategies within the domains of national security and international relations.
Earlier in the day, senior officials in the cybersecurity sector from both countries held a closed-door meeting at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. The afternoon session was open to the public, welcoming journalists and researchers alike.
During the forum, expert strategists from both organizations voiced concerns about North Korea potentially escalating its cyber activities following the Putin-Kim summit, noting that the alliance could serve as a confidence-building opportunity for North Korea.
Among the speakers were Yoon Young-kwan, Chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies; Philip Goldberg, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea; Lim Jong-in, Special Advisor to the President for Cyber Issues; and John Allen, former Commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
“Establishing international consensus on building a robust cybersecurity regime is among the most pressing and significant agendas for the global community,” said Yoon Young-kwan, Chairman of Asan Institute for Policy Studies, delivering welcoming remarks. “We only need to look at the history of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, which was signed 23 years after the first nuclear test in 1945. This example highlights the complexities and time required to force international agreements on critical security issues,” added the Chairman.
U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg emphasized the geopolitical importance of South Korea in deterring cyberthreats. “As one of the most highly connected places in the world, the Republic of Korea is positioned as a strong regional and global leader in shaping cybersecurity norms and strengthening cybersecurity capacity in the Indo-Pacific,” said the Ambassador. “These opportunities also make the Republic of Korea a greater target for adversaries,” he continued. “The nation is a vital U.S. ally in cyberspace, as in so many other areas of military and security cooperation. Cybersecurity is critical for the U.S. in our engagement with the Republic of Korea and the broader Indo-Pacific region. It undergirds our working relationship across military intelligence and business.”
John Allen, former Commander of the NATO International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, stated, “We exist in a state of hybrid conflict with China and Russia.” He warned, “It is from this point of departure that the community of democracies simply must wake up to this reality. We must recognize that if indeed cyberspace has become the strategic high ground of this century, then the integrity of our data and the sanctity of our data networks and infrastructure must be defended against the near constant onslaught of adversaries and enemies.”
General Allen further emphasized the urgency to respond swiftly to Chinese cyberattacks. “I don’t believe that time is on our side in this conflict,” said the former Commander. “There is a real urgency for us to take up our tasks within the context of our mutual defense treaty. We need to move forward, leveraging all the assets of our respective countries and our private sectors to harden our defenses against Chinese attacks. Chinese actions in cyberspace not only aim to destabilize segments of Korean society. They also set the conditions for successful Chinese military operations.”
In a panel discussion, Rhee Dong-yeol, Ambassador for International Cyber Affairs and Special Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, engaged with Marcus Johns, Senior Director for Asia, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Microsoft, and Chris Painter, former Cyber Security Coordinator at the U.S. State Department. The discussion was moderated by Vivek Chilukuri, Program Director of the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS.
Chris Painter, former Cyber Security Coordinator at the U.S. State Department, stressed the need for policymakers to view cyber issues within a broader context. “We can’t think of cyber in silos,” said Painter. “In general, this is part of a larger context. This is part of a larger political fabric that is driving all of this. We don’t have a North Korea problem. We don’t have a cyber problem with North Korea. We have a North Korea problem with North Korea. It is the same with China and Russia. We have to look at both the problem and our responses to the problem.”
