National Security Office Forms 'Cybersecurity Task Force' Following Kakao Outage

National Security Office Chief to Preside Over Cybersecurity Situation Review Meeting
Attendees Include Officials from Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Justice, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, National Police Agency, National Intelligence Service, and Military Security Support Command

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The National Security Office announced on the 17th that it will form a government-wide Cybersecurity Task Force (TF) in response to the Kakao outage incident.

At the senior secretaries' meeting presided over by President Yoon Seok-yeol at the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning, it was reported that a Cybersecurity TF and a Cybersecurity Situation Inspection Meeting, chaired by Kim Seong-han, head of the National Security Office, would be established, Deputy Spokesperson Lee Jae-myung of the Presidential Office briefed.

The Cybersecurity TF plans to hold meetings chaired by National Security Office chief Kim Seong-han to inspect the cybersecurity situation. Deputy Spokesperson Lee explained, "Senior officials from the Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of National Defense, National Intelligence Service, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, National Police Agency, and Military Security Support Command will attend this meeting."

A Presidential Office official explained the background, saying, "(The Kakao incident) was an issue that confirmed concerns that it could affect national security beyond causing inconvenience to people's livelihoods," adding, "Therefore, it was decided at the senior secretaries' meeting presided over by the President to create a TF to inspect the security situation."

Regarding the subjects to be discussed in the future, the official said, "Since it was confirmed that not only the national backbone communication network but also failures in supplementary communication networks have very significant social ripple effects, discussions were held on how to address this from a national security perspective, and alternatives are expected to emerge."

President Yoon, during a door-stepping (brief Q&A on the way to work) that morning regarding the Kakao incident, stated, "Although the network is operated by a private company, from the public's perspective, it is no different from a 'national backbone communication network,'" and mentioned immediate reporting, swift recovery, system improvements, and prevention of recurrence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.