South Korea

한국인터넷진흥원, 카카오뱅크와 스미싱 피해 예방을 위한 기술 협약 체결

KISA | Local Language | AcademicThink | Dec. 5, 2025 | Cyber Attacks and Data Loss

On December 3, 2025, the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) signed a technical agreement with Kakao Bank to enhance the prevention and response to smishing damage. This agreement integrates KISA's national cyber threat data and analysis technologies with Kakao Bank's "AI Smishing Check Service," launched in December 2024. When users submit suspected smishing messages, KISA's analysis functions and Kakao Bank’s large language model-based technology collaborate in real time to provide highly accurate smishing detection directly within the Kakao Bank app.

The partnership expands the scope of smishing detection to include various message types and distribution channels such as text messages and messenger platforms. A significant aspect of this collaboration is the linkage of Kakao Bank’s finance-specialized, real-transaction data with KISA’s national cyber threat information, enabling the detection of new and previously hard-to-capture forms of smishing messages.

KISA emphasized its commitment to reducing smishing damage and expanding cooperation with financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and platform companies to advance fraud prevention systems. Kakao Bank highlighted its dedication to countering increasingly sophisticated smishing crimes and enhancing service safety for its users.

Joongang Ilbo | English | News | Dec. 5, 2025 | North Korea

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun emphasized the importance of pursuing diplomacy with North Korea alongside joint deterrence efforts by South Korea and the United States amid growing threats from the North Korean regime. Speaking via video at a Washington-based forum, Cho highlighted a recently released joint fact sheet on security and trade agreements between Seoul and Washington, calling it a pathway toward a "future-oriented, comprehensive strategic" alliance.

The fact sheet outlines deterrence measures including U.S. support for South Korea's acquisition of nuclear-propelled, conventionally-armed submarines and Seoul's commitment to increase defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP. Cho stressed that deterrence must be paired with diplomacy to prevent inadvertent conflict, de-escalate tensions, and restore dialogue with Pyongyang, even as North Korea's dependence on Russia has grown, complicating prospects for renewed talks.

Cho described the South Korea-U.S. alliance as "ironclad," centered on peace and stability, and underscored a pragmatic diplomatic approach under President Lee Jae Myung. He highlighted the importance of trilateral cooperation with Japan and advancing ties with China despite recent regional tensions, pointing to a rapidly changing strategic landscape shaped by Russia, China, and Japan's evolving roles.

Additionally, Cho addressed the "alliance modernization" involving enhanced strategic economic and technological cooperation, facilitated by a newly finalized bilateral trade and investment agreement. He noted this would boost U.S. manufacturing and create new opportunities for Korean firms in sectors including shipbuilding, energy, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology. The U.S. also backs South Korea's peaceful development of uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capabilities, as well as Seoul's push for nuclear-propelled submarines, to strengthen shared capabilities in energy, defense, and shipbuilding.

Yonhap | English | News | Dec. 5, 2025 | North Korea

South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Eui-hae urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to support Seoul's efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea during a meeting with ambassadors from 11 ASEAN member states in Seoul on December 3, 2025. Chung highlighted appreciation for ASEAN leaders' backing of President Lee Jae Myung's "END" initiative, which aims to end hostility and promote peace with North Korea, emphasizing its components of "exchange," "normalization," and "denuclearization."

Chung also emphasized South Korea’s commitment to strengthening its comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN by enhancing cooperation in trade, security, and people-to-people exchanges. The meeting underscores South Korea’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to deepen ties with ASEAN and advance its policy toward peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula.