The US and South Korean militaries are forming a bilateral cyber working group to jointly address increased threatening actions by North Korea online, the civilian heads of the two militaries announced Thursday. South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo, in a joint press conference at the Pentagon with US Defense Secretary Ash Carter, said through a translator that the militaries will strengthen cyber cooperation “to effectively respond to North Korean Cyber Attacks and threats.” The working group is meeting this month to develop specific measures for bilateral cybersecurity cooperation, he said. “Just as we’ve recommitted ourselves to ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the region, we’re also capitalizing on new opportunities for cooperation at sea and in new domains like cyberspace,” Carter said. (See also: The North Korea Puzzle.)
The idea to establish a new military service dedicated to cyber warfare reared its head again this week thanks to a proposal in Congress and a think tank report. But essential questions about how a so-called “Cyber Force” would be manned and work with the other services remain.