Page 97 - 2020 Defence White Paper

domain of space as well. In particular,
the two nations hold the "Space Co-
operation Working Group" every year,
and share information on space situ-
ational awareness (SSA) to jointly
34)
respond to space threats.
In 2012, the two countries signed the
"Terms of Reference for the ROK–US Exercise related to international space situational Chapter 3
measures (September 2019)
Space Cooperation Working Group
(SCWG)" at the 44th ROK–US SCM. The Space Cooperation Working Group
held 15 meetings since the signing and achieved various cooperation outcomes
including the sharing of pending defense space policy issues, training, fostering, and
exchanges of space workforce, cooperation in SSA, and participation in exercises
related to international space situational measures. In 2019 in particular, the ROK
and the US discussed ways to expand SSA information sharing and activate space
workforce exchanges for joint responses against space threats. And in 2020, the two
nations confirmed the joint objective of shaping the conditions for an even closer
collaboration on developing the alliance’s space policy.

In September 2014, to jointly respond to space threats, the two countries signed the
"MOU on SSA Service and Information Sharing", and based on the agreement, the
ROK Armed Forces is receiving SSA information from the US Space Command.
Since the installation of the Air Force Space Intelligence Center (later named as
Korea Space Operations Center) in July 2015, the ROK has been carrying out several
tasks such as analyzing space threats based on the SSA information provided by
the United States and conducting exercises related to space situational measures
in preparation for events such as satellite collisions. The Korea Space Operations
Center(KSpOC), in particular, maintained close communication with the US by
sharing satellite orbit information with the US Combined Space Operations Center
during the launch of Cheollian 2B (February 2020). The center also participated in
settling the satellite in the target orbit through cooperation with related agencies. 34)
At the 52nd ROK–US SCM held in October 2020, the two countries agreed A concept of providing
information (prediction
to further explore measures for cooperation to strengthen space capabilities as and warning) to users by
collecting and analyzing
an alliance. At the same time, they have agreed to further expand bilateral and data from both ground and
space systems to prepare
multilateral joint exercises to improve the alliance’s space operational capabilities for space hazards such
as falling and collision of
and continue to seek opportunities to foster space specialists. space objects.

Chapter 3. Safeguarding Peace by Establishing a Robust Defense Posture Against Omnidirectional Security Threats