According to a South Korean cybersecurity expert on Wednesday, cyber, space, and artificial intelligence technologies are becoming increasingly intertwined. This convergence necessitates a more integrated approach to assessing threats among emerging technologies.
Yoon Jung-hyun, a research fellow at the Center for Science, Technology, and Cybersecurity at the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), highlighted that the world is entering an era of “emerging security.” He pointed out that as modern technologies increasingly influence daily life, their integration could pose substantial security threats that need to be addressed at a national level. Yoon’s comments were made during the National Strategy for Space Cyber Security event, which was co-hosted by the Korean Academy of Space Security and the Korea Association of Cybersecurity Studies.
Yoon expanded on the challenges associated with cyber, space, and AI technologies, discussing how their growing integration could lead to overlapping concerns. He specifically noted that issues traditionally seen in the cyber industry could also pose threats in the space sector. In the realm of cybersecurity, digitally advanced countries face a higher risk of cyberattacks compared to their less developed counterparts, due to a wider array of potential targets. Yoon suggested that this paradox could similarly become a challenge in space technology, as nations strive to gain an advantage with advanced space capabilities.
The expert further highlighted the difficulty of attributing guilt for wrongdoing perpetrated in space and cybersecurity. Yoon explained that bad actors are able to conduct discreet attacks in cyberspace; so discreet, in fact, that they can elude efforts by authorities to identify and hold the threat actors accountable. Additionally, there is inherent uncertainty in space systems, as it is difficult to determine whether malfunctions were caused by attacks from adversaries or were due to internal errors. These ambiguities present a significant challenge to the security of space assets, which are increasingly being integrated with cyber technologies.
“To deter threats effectively, it’s crucial to accurately attribute specific attacks for retaliation and defense,” emphasized Yoon. He acknowledged the challenges in implementing such measures due to the dual dilemmas present in both cyber and space domains, which provide attackers with greater freedom and options. Despite these obstacles, Yoon underscored the significance of a unified approach, stating, “Cyber and space are interconnected realms; there must be comprehensive defensive measures against these multifaceted dangers.”
