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| South Korea joins NATO cyber division /Defence View |
International Military - On Thursday, April 5, South Korea's spy agency became the first in Asia to join NATO's Cyber Defense Group (CDG). And it is seen as a definite step in bringing the country closer to NATO amid rising tensions in Ukraine.
This was confirmed by South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) which announced that they had been accepted into the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE).
Does becoming a member of the NATO cyber power make South Korea the first Asian country to enter NATO membership?
Not enough, but it is certain that the "risky" step is a worthy step to take. CCDCOE was founded in Tallinn in 2008 in response to a cyberattack that disrupted the Estonian state network. The organization focuses on cybersecurity research, training and drills, the Jakarta Zone quoted the EurAsian Times as saying.
The EurAsian Times added that the CCDCOE consists of 27 NATO member states and five non-NATO partners. “Cyber threats are causing immense damage, not only to individuals but to nations as well.
Thus, international cooperation is very important. We intend to send more people to CCDCOE and expand the scope of joint training”, said NIS.
Although South Korea only joins NATO's cyber division, that is not the same as NATO membership. But CCDCOE not only belongs to international military organizations, they also protect their own security. This means that if member states become cyber targets that they cannot handle on their own, it will be detrimental to NATO as a whole.
Provoking the fury of Russia?
There are also those who think that this step taken by South Korea will anger Russia, why? NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE) selected Ukraine in March as one of the participants, in addition to other non-NATO members (Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, and now South Korea).
Admittedly, South Korea's step "closer" to NATO is to respond to the ongoing fighting (Russia and Ukraine). "If South Korea takes steps to antagonize its neighbors, it will share the same fate as Ukraine," said a source in the EurAsian Times.
Did rising tensions in Ukraine prompt NATO to agree to South Korea's membership? There are no guarantees, but there is no doubt that this helped South Korea strengthen its relationship with NATO.
One of the evidence, at the NATO foreign ministers conference in Brussels in April 2022 which discussed the situation in Ukraine. Four of the US's Asian allies, including South Korea, attended the meeting, and will continue at the upcoming NATO summit in Madrid, in June.
According to experts on the EurAsian Times website, the incident in Ukraine prompted NATO to change its security strategy in Asia. NATO considers it necessary to examine the relationship between European problems and stability in Asia. Given the importance of the Indo-Pacific region, it is very logical for NATO to remain relevant, they must look beyond geographic boundaries and engage in the region.
And on the South Korean side, the government there has reasons to strengthen its defenses. For example, North Korea's test launch of a ballistic missile has forced South Korea to take drastic steps.