Seoul: South Korea's Cyber Security Command is set to participate in a U.S.-led international cybersecurity exercise this week, aimed at enhancing allies' ability to respond to malicious cyberspace activities, the defense ministry announced on Monday. A total of 25 countries, including South Korea, will engage in the Cyber Flag exercise, which will take place from Monday through Friday in Virginia.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Cyber Flag exercise, first launched in 2011, aims to strengthen partnerships between the United States and its key allies by testing their skills to detect and expel enemies in cyberspace under simulated attack scenarios. This year marks the fifth participation for South Korea since it first joined the drills in 2022.

The South Korean Cyber Security Command expects that the drills will enhance its defensive cyber operations capabilities and strengthen partnerships with participating nations through joint analysis of potential cyber threats. Furthermore, South Korea plans to continue expanding its cooperation with the U.S. through other joint cybersecurity drills, such as the Cyber Alliance exercise, and through personnel and technology exchanges in the cyber sector, the ministry stated.