Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Crisis Response Network (CRN) will conduct a joint tabletop exercise in Korea to enhance regional response capacity to supply chain disruptions in the Indo-Pacific region. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) announced that Korea, as chair of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) CRN, will host the 4th IPEF CRN Regular Meeting alongside a crisis response tabletop exercise at Lotte Hotel Seoul on Wednesday, October 22, 2025.

The exercise marks the third joint drill since the CRN’s launch in 2024 as the implementing body of the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement. It aims to establish a systematic framework for supply chain crisis response and to assess the effectiveness of member coordination while strengthening collective response capacity.

The scenario simulates a sudden shutdown of refining and processing operations in a critical mineral–producing country, triggering shortages and price spikes across IPEF member economies. Participating countries will practice a series of real-time response procedures, including sharing supply chain updates, assessing crisis escalation levels, coordinating joint responses, convening a ministerial meeting, and adopting a joint statement outlining policy cooperation. Compared with previous exercises, this drill features more detailed procedures, including stage-based response measures, bilateral consultations among countries with shared interests, and escalation to the ministerial level.

In parallel with the exercise, Korea and Australia will share updates on the progress and future plans of their joint IPEF supply chain capacity-building initiative. Targeting seven member countries, the program aims to enhance regional supply chain resilience by providing tailored training on supply chain management, crisis response manuals, and policy development capabilities.

As the central coordination body for supply chain cooperation under the IPEF, the CRN serves as the control tower for rapid information-sharing, policy coordination, and collective action during disruptions. Korea was elected as the CRN’s inaugural chair in July 2024 following the signing of the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement in 2023, and continues to play a leading role in strengthening supply chain crisis response.

Lee Jae-keun, Director General for New Trade Strategy and Policy at MOTIR, stated, “Critical minerals are essential to achieving carbon neutrality and sustaining the competitiveness of advanced industries, making supply chain stability more crucial than ever. This exercise goes beyond a simple simulation and provides practical training that replicates real-world policy decision-making and response procedures.” He added, “At a time of heightened concerns over critical mineral supply chains, this exercise reaffirms the Indo-Pacific countries’ strong commitment to active supply chain cooperation.