Seoul: South Korea and Singapore have reached an agreement to collaborate closely on countering North Korea's illicit cyber activities, including cryptocurrency thefts. The announcement comes from Seoul's foreign ministry after a cyber policy dialogue held in Singapore.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the inaugural dialogue was spearheaded by Lee Tae-woo, South Korea's ambassador for international cyber affairs, and Chua Kuan Seah, Singapore's deputy chief executive for development at the Cyber Security Agency. The discussions focused on recent cyber threat cases involving North Korea's attempts to steal virtual assets and other concerning cyber-related activities. The officials examined threat patterns by various actors involved in these activities.

The two nations have agreed on the necessity for close coordination to ensure an effective joint response to the evolving cyber risks posed by North Korea. The dialogue also explored the development of the cybersecurity ecosystem, including the bilateral arrangement on the Internet of Things (IoT) security certification. This agreement allows for the mutual recognition of consumer IoT security products without the need for additional testing.

In addition to these discussions, both sides shared their respective cybersecurity policies and exchanged views on related trends and practices across different sectors, including public, private, academic, and research and development fields. The officials also agreed to strengthen cooperation in establishing international norms in the cyber domain, particularly within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks.