Cybersecurity News that Matters

Cybersecurity News that Matters

South Korea, EU experts look into opportunities to cooperate in cyberspace

by Kuksung Nam

Sep. 15, 2023
1:55 PM GMT+9

Experts from South Korea and the European Union convened on Friday to explore collaborative approaches for combating emerging cyber threats.

Cormac Callanan, the cybersecurity coordinator for Enhancing Security Cooperation In and With Asia (ESIWA), kicked off the discussion with a poignant quote that encapsulated the spirit of cyber cooperation. His remarks came during a special session of the Hongneung Defense Forum focused on South Korea-EU relations in the realm of cybersecurity.

Cormac Callanan, the cybersecurity coordinator from Enhancing Security Cooperation In and With Asia (ESIWA), second from the right, is speaking at the Hongneung Defense Forum’s special session on South Korea and the EU. Photo by Kuksung Nam, The Readable

Just as one would instinctively assist someone suffering a potential heart attack in front of them, the same principle should apply to countries supporting one another during a cybersecurity emergency. “If you are under an attack and you are actually suffering the consequences and you know it’s coming from a neighboring country, or even a distant country, when you speak with them and when you deal with them, you expect them to support you and try to resolve the crisis in an amicable, non-violent way,” noted Callanan.

Following Callanan’s opening remarks, Kim Heun-jin, the deputy director of North Korea nuclear affairs policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), highlighted a landmark international collaboration in the battle against illicit cyber activities. She cited the joint operation by the United States and Germany to dismantle a cryptocurrency mixer that was reputedly the world’s largest darknet money laundering service, this past March.

Kim Heun-jin, the deputy director of North Korea nuclear affairs policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), on the left, and Patryk Pawlak, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, are listening to a speech at the Hongneung Defense Forum’s special session on South Korea and the EU. Photo by Kuksung Nam, The Readable

The Deputy Director also emphasized the multiplying effect that unilateral sanctions could have when echoed by other nations. “While allied countries like South Korea and the U.S. have independently levied sanctions to combat North Korea’s cyber misdeeds, one might argue that unilateral actions are insufficient on the global stage,” Kim noted. “However, the cumulative effect could be substantial if several countries impose sanctions on the same target concurrently. This approach could amplify the impact and provide a more effective response to malicious actors.”

Patryk Pawlak, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, expanded on the deputy director’s points, offering a case study of potential collaboration between South Korea and the EU. The cyber diplomacy expert noted that substantive discussions regarding a coordinated sanctions strategy for tackling cyber threats have been surprisingly sparse between the two entities. “Please remember that the EU’s autonomous sanctions regime allows for reacting in the case of an attack against allies,” said Pawlak. “We have actually adopted cyber sanctions the most in the attacks on our partners in specific instances in Ukraine and Georgia.”

Subscription

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest insights and trends. Tailor your subscription to fit your interests:

By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. Your email address will only be used to send you the information you have requested, and you can unsubscribe at any time through the link provided in our emails.

  • Kuksung Nam
    : Author

    Kuksung Nam is a journalist for The Readable. She has extensively traversed the globe to cover the latest stories on the cyber threat landscape and has been producing in-depth stories on security and...

    View all posts
Author:
Stay Ahead with The Readable's Cybersecurity Insights