S. Korean Intelligence: Cyberattack, the Work of N. Korean Military (KPA Recon Bureau)

Chosun Ilbo ^ | 07/10/09

[TigerLikesRooster]

/begin my summary

S. Korean Intelligence: Cyberattack, the Work of N. Korean Military (in a report to legislature)

Ddos attacks on major institutions in S. Korea and U.S. were the operation by Institute No. 110 under Reconnaisance Bureau of N. Korean General Staff, according to Kookmin Ilbo on July 10.

According to its report to Intelligence Committee at National Assembly, the N. Korean institute staged a mock Ddos attack on Korean Communications Commission and a provincial university last month.

The institute develops hacking programs and runs undercover hacking units overseas, according to a lawmaker present at the intelligence committee.

/end my summary

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Abathar]

There can’t be too many points that the data is coming out of NKorea, I imagine all their high speed routing stuff is going through China, perhaps some through Russia also. I can’t believe that a few points being shut down close to the border wouldn’t bring this attack to a screeching halt if someone wanted to send a message.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Nothing happens in NK without the PRC.

[rjp2005]

I’ll bet you a million dollars NK got it’s cyberattack technology from Iran which got their high tech internet stuff from companies like Siemens.

[Perdogg]

I somewhat disagree on that. Stability in on the Korean peninsula would be in the economic interest of the PRC.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The PRC looks at NK with some envy, I’ve been told.

[BenLurkin]

Just as Russian pilots flew their Migs in the 50s so also foreign hackers are likely conducting this attack.

Just my wild hunch.

[krogers58]

There can’t be too many points that the data is coming out of NKorea, I imagine all their high speed routing stuff is going through China, perhaps some through Russia also. I can’t believe that a few points being shut down close to the border wouldn’t bring this attack to a screeching halt if someone wanted to send a message.

From what I've read of their attack, they have taken control of computers all over the world, and have used their network of zombie computers to attack these sites. I guess they have surreptitiously installed software on user's systems, which when called to duty, responds in the pre-programmed way. Many users systems are compromised, without their even knowing it. Frequently, users will notice their system is running slowly, and will think the internet is just slow. They install this software in a variety of ways that have become quite sophisticated over the years. There are ways to compromise people's systems, from their just visiting a website.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

No doubt.

[AmericanInTokyo]

They are testing, to what extent they can down ROK, USA (DOD and ROK Army and USFK), etc. facilities and capabilities in cyberspace, prior to and during a major missile attack, including ICBM. This DDos stuff on websites is just the start. But they have already engineered it to destroy hard drives and wipeout data. It is part of their offensive strategy. This is what, IMHO, they are testing. They may not be good at it but they are trying to excel. It makes sense that it is run out of the Korean People’s Army with leftist cooperation probably in South Korea and Japan (and through China). They are going on a war footing. Only we (in the West) dont know it yet, even though they have made the declaration of war so many times in word and in action. (Kind of like how we did not take Tokyo serious in 1941 or Al Qaeda serious in 2001). Same difference.