South Korean and U.S. officials gathered here Thursday to discuss cooperation in the cybersecurity sector as both countries are experiencing an increase in online trade.

The seminar brought together about 100 government, business and academic participants from the two sides to discuss trends in cybersecurity in critical infrastructure sectors, such as finance and energy telecom.

Under the New Frontier slogan, cybersecurity has emerged as a key area of cooperation between the allies, along with space, health, environment and technology.

"The U.S. Department of Commerce recognizes that the global digital marketplace has driven unprecedented increases in innovation, competitiveness and economic growth," Marcus Jadotte, U.S. assistant secretary of commerce for industry and analysis, said in his opening remarks.

"We strongly believe in promoting cybersecurity policies that protect the dynamic engine of economic growth, and that's vital to our mission in the 21st century," he said, noting that the Internet economy in the U.S. represents more than 5 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

In 2014, digitally enabled services exports from the U.S. represented 55 percent of the country's total services exports, he added.

South Korea, one of the most wired nations in the world, has come under cybersecurity threats, especially from North Korea.

"It is extremely timely for an ICT power like South Korea and the U.S., with its world-class technologies, to strengthen mutual cooperation across borders," said Song Jung-su, director-general of the cybersecurity policy bureau at the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. (Yonhap)