WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Commerce launched the Disruptive Technology Protection Network with Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), hosting the first high-level trilateral summit in Washington, D.C.  The creation of this network follows an August 2023 Camp David summit between the leaders of the three countries, during which they committed to expanding collaboration on technology protection measures and build connections between representatives of the U.S. Disruptive Technology Strike Force and Japan and ROK counterparts.  The Disruptive Technology Protection Network expands information-sharing and the exchange of best practices across the three countries’ enforcement agencies.

“Preventing sensitive technologies from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states is not only a critical endeavor, but a shared one,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod.  “Yesterday’s Summit formally launched our work with our partners in South Korea and Japan, as we join together to prevent our countries’ most sensitive items from getting into the world’s most dangerous hands.”

The meeting was hosted by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and Assistant Secretary Axelrod, the two co-leads of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force.  The Strike Force, established in February 2023, is an interagency law enforcement effort aimed at preventing critical technologies from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states. 

“Keeping sensitive technology out of the wrong hands is a global problem and demands a global response,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen.  “Our partnerships with like-minded nations are critical to our ability to succeed, and we are proud to join forces with Japan and the Republic of Korea in forming the Disruptive Technology Protection Network.”

Assistant Attorney General Olsen and Assistant Secretary Axelrod were joined by Hyeon-Wook Kim, Secretary to the President of the ROK for Economic Security (ROK); Soonjeong Kwon, Deputy Minister of Justice, Head of the Prosecution Service Bureau (ROK); Woohyuk Choi, Director General for the Bureau of Trade Controls Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) (ROK); IGARI Katsuro, Director General of the Trade Control Department at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI); and TSUTSUI Hiroki, Director General of Japan’s Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Department.  Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco delivered opening remarks for the event, highlighting the successes of the Strike Force and the importance of international partnerships.

The United States, Japan, and the ROK enjoy strong trade relationships and law enforcement cooperation.  Recognizing that violations of export controls or other laws prohibiting the illicit transfer of technology threaten their respective national security interests, the delegations agreed that combatting illicit technology transfer is a critical national and economic security imperative and agreed to further enhance cooperation and information sharing through the signing of two Memoranda of Intent between the three countries. 

Over the course of the day, delegates shared updates on their respective technology protection efforts, presented case studies about recent enforcement actions, and provided overviews of their key enforcement authorities.  The summit ended with a comprehensive discussion of practical next steps to execute the newly-signed memoranda and concurrence on the network’s near- and medium-term goals.

The delegations included representatives from the following agencies:

The United States

• The Department of Justice
• The Department of Commerce
• The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations
• The Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service

Japan

• The National Police Agency
• The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI)
• The Ministry of Finance, Customs and Tariff Bureau

The Republic of Korea

• The Office of the President
• The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE)
• The Ministry of Justice
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• The Customs Service

Background on the Trilateral Leaders’ Summit at Camp David

In August 2023, President Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Kishida and ROK President Yoon to a historic trilateral summit at Camp David, the first-ever stand-alone summit of leaders from the United States, Japan, and the ROK, and the first summit of foreign leaders at Camp David during the Biden-Harris Administration.  The leaders jointly inaugurated a new era of trilateral partnership and reaffirmed that cooperation between the United States, Japan, and the ROK advances the security and prosperity of our people, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world. Among other priorities, the leaders committed to building connections between the Disruptive Technology Strike Force representatives and their Japan and ROK counterparts.

Additional information about the Camp David Summit is available here.