1. Ambassador for International Security Affairs Shin Maeng-ho will visit Europe from June 15 till 20 to attend in his capacity as the Republic of Korea’s head delegate the country’s cyber policy consultations with the Czech Republic, the EU and Germany.

° The ROK delegation to the consultations will be composed of officials from such relevant government agencies as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, the Korea Internet and Security Agency, and the National Security Research Institute. In the bilateral meetings with the Czech Republic, the EU and Germany, the two sides will make assessments of the current cyber security situation and discuss cyber policies and strategies, norms in the cyber space, and ways to work together in the sector.

2. With cyber security having emerged as a major international issue amid the large-scale hackings and the spread of cyber crimes of late, the cyber policy consultations with the European countries and the EU are expected to help the ROK expand its basis for international cooperation for responding to cyber threats.

° In particular, the ROK’s cyber policy consultations with the Czech Republic and Germany will mark the first of its kind with individual EU countries. By holding the meetings, the ROK will have set up consultative mechanisms on cyber policy with the four major neighboring powers (the US, China, Japan and Russia), Asia-Pacific countries (Australia and India), a Middle Eastern country (Saudi Arabia) and EU member states (the Czech Republic and Germany).

3. During his visit to Europe, Ambassador Shin will also meet with NATO’s Assistant Secretary-General for Emerging Security Challenges Sorin Ducaru and Senior Associate Annegret Bendiek of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. In the meetings, the two sides will exchange views on NATO’s cyber defense policy and Europe’s cyber security policy.


* unofficial translation