Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Cyber reserve forces organized in response to North Korean attacks

The government has reviewed its organization of cyber reserve forces in response to North Korea's cyber attack threats; it has also prepared combined enhanced civil-military measures to counter GPS（Global Positioning System）　electronic jamming.

The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Science, IT, and Future Planning (MSIP) held their first head-level conference on the ‘creation of common values for creative economy and creative defense’ at the MND building on May 26. This meeting was held as a follow-up to the MOU that the two departments entered into last May, and to cooperation　through a cyber collaboration system in last April.

The policy director of Information and Communication, MSIP, Kim Yong-su, and the chief of the Office of Planning, Hwang Hee-jong, attended this meeting and discussed five issues including the possibility of organizing cyber reserve forces, developing intelligent CCTV technology to monitor the national border, establishing a joint response to GPS　electronic jamming, and an SW-centered combat skills strengthening plan.

With respect to the cyber reserve forces, the MND was to review its applicability and feasibility, and to judge the necessity of system reform such as changing the relevant laws, while the MSIP searched for joint counterplans against emergency situations, including cyber terrorism, after looking at the construction of the cyber training ground and the provision of pertinent educational programs.

The two departments decided to apply intelligent information technology, the core of the 4th industrial revolution, to its national defense. Centering on Information Technology Research Center (ITRC), they are going to strive to engage in basic technology research of intelligent CCTV as well as manpower cultivation. In addition, they will aim to develop technologies that will serve to monitor their major defense facilities.

There were civil-military joint response systems arranged for GPS electronic jamming as well. The two departments agreed to achieve system interoperability by 2017, so that they can accurately and rapidly detect and respond to signal jamming in real time by sharing electronic jamming information.

Also, by transferring hardware-centered military information and communication technology (ICT) manpower, and weapons systems into a software-centered approach, they were able to cooperatively enhance their high-tech combat capabilities that are appropriate for the future battlefield environments.

By Byeong-No, Yun < trylover@dema.mil.kr >
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