NATO is expanding. The South Korean spy agency became the first in Asia to join the cyber defense group of the Alliance. "We plan to strengthen our cyber response capabilities to a world-class level by increasing the number of our personnel sent to the Center and expanding the scope of joint training," said the National Intelligence Service (NIS). But China immediately responded to what appears to be a provocation for Beijing.
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South Korea in NATO, what happens
Established in 2008 in response to a Russian cyber attack that paralyzed Estonia's networks, the Center currently has 32 countries, including 27 from NATO. "Cyber threats are causing great harm not only to individuals, but to separate nations as well as transnationally, so close international cooperation is key," NIS said.
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Beijing's response
Seoul's move was harshly criticized by Hu Xijin, the former editor of the Global Times, the People's Daily tabloid (the voice of the Chinese Communist Party). " If South Korea takes a path to become hostile towards its neighbors, the end of this path could be Ukraine ," Hu, the most followed Chinese journalist on Twitter, wrote on Twitter in an uneasy way.
If South Korea takes a path of turning hostile against its neighbors, the end of this path could be a Ukraine. https://t.co/WVuQvpLjLv
- Hu Xijin 胡锡 进 (@HuXijin_GT) May 5, 2022
Relations between Korea and China
South Korea's admission to the group is a sign that should not be underestimated. And it fits into recent moves by US allies in response to growing threats from Moscow and Beijing, which have supported Vladimir Putin's adventurism. On April 29, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry hailed the ties with Russia as " a new model of international relations " .
Did the war in Ukraine accelerate accession?
It is not clear whether the war in Ukraine prompted NATO to sign South Korea's membership. Also because the NIS submitted its application to join the group in 2019 and participated in the two most recent Locked Shields, the largest international cyber defense exercise in the world. The CCDCOE now has 27 NATO member countries and five non-NATO contributing participants.
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