(사)국제융복합연구원

키워드

초록

This study analyzes security threats to submarine cables as strategic assets in the age of hybrid warfare and explores response measures. Submarine cables, which transmit over 95% of global data traffic and function as the neural network of modern society, have become primary targets of hybrid strategies due to their physical and geopolitical vulnerabilities. This research examines major incidents in the Taiwan Strait, Baltic Sea, and Norwegian Arctic regions to analyze patterns and characteristics of intentional cable damage disguised as civilian fishing or commercial vessel activities. These actions guarantee plausible deniability and make it extremely difficult to identify perpetrators and establish accountability. The findings reveal that the current United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) framework has clear limitations in effectively responding to state-sponsored disguised cable damage, stemming from legal gaps, absence of enforcement mechanisms, and interpretative ambiguities. Consequently, this study proposes a comprehensive international cooperation framework that includes enhanced information sharing systems, joint attribution mechanisms, agreed response protocols, strengthened legal frameworks, and capacity-building support. This framework integrates legal, technical, and diplomatic tools to effectively protect submarine cables from hybrid threats.

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