CAFCYBERCOM joins Cyber Summit Korea and APEX 2025 to boost international cyber partnerships

September 11, 2025 – Defence Stories

Estimated read time – 2:00

By: Major Christopher Daniel, Senior Public Affairs Officer, CAFCYBERCOM

Caption

Cyber experts from CAFCYBERCOM, the RCMP, and CSE collaborate during APEX 2025 in Seoul, South Korea.

From September 8–11, the Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command (CAFCYBERCOM) participated in Cyber Summit Korea 2025 in Seoul to strengthen international cyber partnerships and enhance collaboration with global partners in the Indo-Pacific region. The summit brought together cyber experts from governments, militaries, academia, and industry to address emerging threats, explore innovative technologies, and reinforce global cyber resilience.

A central part of CAFCYBERCOM’s participation was the Allied Power Exercise (APEX) 2025, a multinational cyber defence exercise co-hosted by South Korea’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) and NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE). The exercise combined Field Technology and Policy Simulation training, allowing participants to test operational readiness, decision-making frameworks, and interagency coordination under simulated cyberattacks.

Major Scott Smith, Operations Officer at the Canadian Forces Network Operations Centre and Exercise Director for the Canadian delegation, said APEX was a vital opportunity to strengthen partnerships, enhance Canada’s cyber readiness, and foster global cooperation with like-minded partners. “APEX puts us shoulder to shoulder with domestic and international partners, working together to detect and respond to cyber threats. These exercises sharpen our operational edge and, just as importantly, reinforce the trust and credibility that underpin effective partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

Caption

Members of the Canadian delegation listen to a welcome brief by an executive from the Republic of Korea’s National Cyber Security Center during APEX 2025 in Seoul, South Korea.

During the exercise, CAFCYBERCOM personnel collaborated with counterparts from South Korea and the Philippines, contributing to joint simulations and bilateral training. Canada’s team included the Canadian Forces Network Operations Centre (CFNOC), the Office of the Judge Advocate General, Global Affairs Canada, Public Safety Canada, and the RCMP Cybercrime Investigative Team, all coordinated with the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security to provide operational, legal, policy, and communications expertise.

The NCSC emphasized that cyberattacks transcend national borders, making international cooperation not a choice but a necessity. "By hosting the international cyber exercise ‘APEX’, the Republic of Korea seeks to strengthen information sharing and joint response capabilities among participating nations, thereby fostering stronger global collaboration," they noted.

This year, the Republic of Korea and Canada joined forces as a team in Locked Shields 2025, achieving outstanding results. "We hope this experience will further deepen our bilateral cyber partnership and pave the way for continued cooperation in advancing security in areas such as artificial intelligence, space, and post-quantum cryptography,” the NCSC added.

CAFCYBERCOM’s participation in APEX 2025 builds on its ongoing partnerships, including previous collaboration with South Korea during Exercise LOCKED SHIELDS 2025, and advances Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy by reinforcing regional security, democratic resilience, and trusted defence cooperation.

Through Cyber Security Korea and APEX 2025, CAFCYBERCOM continues to advance Canada’s active role in global cyber defence, strengthening allied readiness, and fostering international collaboration to address evolving cyber threats.