1. The 5th Republic of Korea-United States Cyber Policy Consultation took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 21. The two sides assessed the cyber security environment; shared international trends in cyber policy and related information; and discussed ways to increase cyber cooperation between the two countries, prospects for discussions on international regulations on cyberspace, and confidence-building measures (CBM) and capacity building.

※ participants from the ROK side: Ambassador for International Security Affairs Moon Duk-ho (head of the ROK delegation), and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, the Korean National Police Agency, and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (24 people)

※ participants from the US side: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Cyber and International Communications and Information Policy Robert Strayer (head of the US delegation), and officials from the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (23 people)

2. In the meeting, the two sides also looked at measures to follow up on the agreement reached at the ROK-US summit on June 13, 2017, including ways to strengthen cooperation on the elimination of malicious cyber activities, as well as on the economic aspects of cyber security.

o The two sides exchanged views on developments in discussions on international regulations on cyberspace, and agreed to continue to closely work together on follow-up measures by the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (GGE).

3. The meeting, which was the first government-wide cyber policy consultation since the launch of the new governments in the two countries, served as an opportunity to reaffirm and further increase collaboration between the two countries in the area of cyber security.

o The two sides agreed on the need to jointly respond to cyber threats, as the development of ICTs has resulted in a rise in cyber threats, including WannaCry and other ransomware attacks, attacks on cryptocurrency exchanges and infrastructure, and mobile app hacking.

o In particular, the two sides will also continue in-depth consultations on such sensitive areas of attribution and deterrence.

* unofficial translation