South Korea Joins NATO’s Cyber Coalition 2023 Exercise in Estonia

General

SEOUL – For the first time, South Korea is participating in a NATO-led international cyberdefense exercise, Cyber Coalition 2023, held in Estonia. This participation marks a significant step in enhancing South Korea’s collaboration with NATO in the realm of cyberdefense.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the NATO flagship annual cyber exercise, running from Monday to Friday, involves 35 NATO members and partners, including the European Union. The exercise aims to bolster the joint capability of the participants to counter threats in the cyber domain. South Korea’s Cyber Operations Command has dispatched three service members to Estonia for the exercise, with eight others joining virtually. This move follows the adoption of the Individually Tailored Partnership Program (ITPP) in July, under which South Korea and NATO have been increasing cooperation across 11 areas, such as antiterrorism, nonproliferation, emerging technologies, and cyberdefense. South Korea’s involvement in this exercise underscores its commitment to enhancing its cybersecurity capabilities and fostering international partnerships to address evolving cyber threats.