US, South Korean Officials Reaffirm Ties, Cybersecurity Commitment at Seoul Meeting

U.S. and South Korean officials met in Seoul for the seventh U.S.-ROK Cyber Policy Consultations meeting, where they reaffirmed their commitment to promoting international cybersecurity and bilateral cybersecurity cooperation.

During the U.S.-ROK Cyber Policy Consultation meeting, the officials updated each other on their respective countries’ national cyber policies and discussed cooperation and developments in regional and international cybersecurity. Other topics discussed include cyberspace stability, secure internet availability, bilateral anti-cybercrime collaboration, ASEAN region cyber resilience and cybersecurity operations against North Korea.

The series of meetings is part of the U.S.-ROK Strategic Cybersecurity Cooperation Framework signed in April 2023, the U.S. Department of State said.

It is also part of the United States’ efforts to strengthen cybersecurity partnerships with its international partners.

In September, Nathaniel Fick, U.S. ambassador-at-large for cyberspace and digital policy, said the State Department is creating a new strategy for international cybersecurity collaboration. According to Fick, the draft builds on the Biden administration’s National Cybersecurity Strategy, which includes international partnerships as a key pillar.

In January 2023, U.S. foreign affairs and defense officials visited the Philippines for the two countries’ Bilateral Strategic Dialogue, where the two sides agreed to jointly assess the cybersecurity threat landscape and set up cyberthreat defense mechanisms.