Seoul, South Korea―An international cyber exercise, proposed by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at last summer’s NATO summit, will bring security experts from around the world to Seoul next week.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) announced on Wednesday that South Korea will lead an international cyber defense drill, named the “APEX (Allied Power Exercise) 2024,” at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in Seoul from September 10 to 12.
The global exercise will proceed simultaneously with the Cyber Summit Korea (CSK) 2024, a conference whish is also hosted by the NIS.
In APEX 2024, approximately 70 cybersecurity professionals from 24 countries, including the United States, Italy, Japan, and Singapore, will be divided into teams to jointly respond to simulated cyber crises. Unlike traditional cyber exercises, which are often competitive, APEX 2024 emphasizes fostering cooperation among participating nations, the NIS explained in a statement.
In collaboration with the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE), South Korea’s intelligence agency, along with various government bodies, including the Cyber Operations Command under the Ministry of National Defense, has developed cyber training models.
In a simulated Pacific Ocean environment, participating nations will conduct both cyberattacks and defenses. The exercise is divided into two parts: real-time field technology training, where each nation defends against attacks, and online policy training, which evaluates response procedures in legislation and public relations. During the field technology training, the host country will act as the red team, launching attacks on six blue teams. The online policy training focuses on improving national cybersecurity strategies by reviewing legal frameworks and media responses during a cyber emergency.
“South Korea will strengthen cooperation with NATO and Indo-Pacific nations by hosting a world-class international cyber exercise, allowing us to collectively address global cybersecurity challenges,” said Yoon Oh-jun, the Third Deputy Director of the NIS, in a statement.
The latest cyber training initiative directly stems from President Yoon’s vision for cyber defense. During the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July of last year, President Yoon and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg agreed on the increased importance of cybersecurity in international security. At the summit, President Yoon presented his cyber agenda to NATO member and partner states, which included establishing an international cyber training center and launching global cyber exercises.
According to the Presidential Office, South Korea will invest over $30 million (40 billion won) by 2027 to establish a center dedicated to enhancing cybersecurity. The facility, spanning 89,000 square feet, will facilitate collaboration between the public and private sectors globally, as well as with armed forces. “As a leading cybersecurity nation in the Indo-Pacific region, we will further strengthen our cybersecurity cooperation with NATO by opening this international cyber training center,” said President Yoon in a speech at the summit.
A year later, again at the NATO summit, President Yoon provided further details about APEX 2024. He explained that the international cyber exercise aims to help NATO and its global partners improve their defensive capabilities against cyber threats, with plans to invite NATO’s 32 member states to participate in the drill.
In 2022, South Korea became the first Asian country to join the NATO CCDCOE. The CCDCOE organizes the world’s largest live-fire cyber defense exercise, known as Locked Shields. This year’s exercise, held over five days in April, saw approximately 4,000 experts from more than 40 countries working to protect infrastructure within a simulated environment. South Korea has participated in Locked Shields for four consecutive years.
Related article: South Korean President stressed strengthening cyber cooperation with NATO, including international exercise
On Thursday, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized the strong partnership that exists between the Republic of Korea and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in securing cyberspace against emerging threats. The two parties are deepening their cooperation, with NATO member states expected to join in a cyber exercise in Seoul.
In a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, President Yoon stated that South Korea has been building strong solidarity with the military alliance of European and North American countries for the past three years. President Yoon was the first South Korean leader to participate in a NATO summit since 2022. The bilateral meeting took place on the last day of the NATO summit, which was held in Washington from July 9 to 11. READ MORE
