Japan and NATO Discuss Secure Communication Line for Sharing Security Information

The national security advisers of South Korea, the United States, and Japan held a trilateral meeting in Seoul to discuss new initiatives aimed at addressing the nuclear and cyber threats posed by North Korea. The meeting focused on preventing hacking crimes, which are a major source of funding for North Korea's nuclear and missile development program. Last year, North Korea reportedly stole virtual assets worth $1.7 billion through cyber theft [df04be2d].

The trilateral meeting in Seoul builds on the ongoing efforts of the three countries to coordinate their responses to the North Korean threat. The discussions centered on enhancing cooperation in maintaining the rule-based order and regional security amidst global threats. The national security advisers emphasized the need for a stronger international push to suppress North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and missiles. They expressed concerns about North Korea's alleged arms transfers to Russia and emphasized the importance of strict implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions [236bea26] [df04be2d].

In addition to addressing nuclear threats, the three countries also discussed cybersecurity issues related to North Korea. They agreed to increase their efforts to counter North Korea's cyber threats, including cryptocurrency abuses and space launches. The specific actions to be taken against North Korea's cyber threats were not detailed in the article [236bea26] [df04be2d].

South Korea, the United States, and Japan are committed to maintaining a strong alliance and cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by North Korea's military activities and potential alliances. South Korea, in particular, aims to maintain its diplomatic gains while pursuing a diplomatic philosophy in inter-Korean affairs. The country recognizes the importance of its alliance with the United States in achieving its diplomatic goals [df04be2d].

The trilateral meeting in Seoul reflects the heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula due to North Korea's accelerated expansion of its nuclear and missile program. The United States and its Asian allies are increasing the visibility of their trilateral partnership in the region and strengthening their combined military exercises. They also expressed concerns about a potential arms alignment between North Korea and Russia. The countries have agreed to new initiatives to more effectively respond to North Korean efforts to bypass international sanctions. South Korean intelligence and military officials have said North Korea may have shipped more than a million artillery shells to Russia. The three security advisers reaffirmed North Korea's obligations under multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions that call for its denuclearization and ban any weapons trade with other countries. The allies are preparing for the possibility that North Korea will up the ante of its weapons demonstrations and threats in 2024, possibly including the country's seventh nuclear test [c1e60322] [df04be2d].

South Korea and the U.S. will hold the second session of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in Washington on Friday. The meeting aims to discuss ways to strengthen nuclear deterrence against North Korea. The session comes five months after the inaugural session was held in Seoul. The two sides are expected to implement the Washington Declaration adopted by President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden in April, focusing on enhancing their ability to execute nuclear deterrence against Pyongyang [6fbbcb81].

A system for the real-time sharing of North Korean ballistic missile warning data between South Korea, the United States, and Japan is expected to become operational "within the next few days," according to Mira Rapp-Hooper, the National Security Council senior director for East Asia and Oceania. The trilateral cooperation between the three countries has progressed since the Camp David summit in August, where they agreed to operationalize the system by the end of this year. The system will enhance security coordination in response to North Korean nuclear and missile threats. The US has had separate data sharing systems with South Korea and Japan, but there has not been a direct data linkage between the two Asian neighbors due to historical feuds. The trilateral cooperation also includes plans for meetings between the three countries' commerce ministers and financial ministers in 2024 [0590008e].

Japan and NATO are discussing the establishment of a secure dedicated communication line to quickly share sensitive security information. The mechanism aims to counter cyberattacks and disinformation from countries like China and Russia. They are considering implementing a system similar to NATO's BICES, which has high security capabilities and can share information from remote locations. Multiple options, including connecting the hotline to BICES, will be considered [8e8bf855].