Seoul: In a concerning revelation, South Korea’s intelligence service reports that hacker groups from North Korea have successfully infiltrated at least two chip manufacturing equipment firms within the nation. Their objective: to circumvent sanctions and develop indigenous semiconductors for weapons projects.
This disclosure follows a stark warning from South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who cautioned of potential North Korean provocations aimed at influencing the upcoming April parliamentary elections. These provocations, which could include cyberattacks or the dissemination of false information, raise significant security concerns.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has urgently called for enhanced security measures, citing a surge in North Korean cyberattacks targeting South Korean companies since late last year. Disturbingly, the NIS reveals that in both December and February, North Korean hackers breached the servers of two businesses, obtaining sensitive data such as facility photographs and product design blueprints.
“We believe that North Korea may be gearing up to domestically manufacture semiconductors in response to challenges posed by sanctions,” stated the NIS in an official statement.
Moreover, the NIS underscores the heightened demand for semiconductors driven by North Korea’s ambitious satellite, missile, and other weapons programs, amplifying the urgency of the situation.
Despite consistent denials from Pyongyang regarding involvement in cybercrimes, North Korea has faced widespread accusations of orchestrating cyberattacks resulting in substantial financial gains.
The NIS also sheds light on the sophisticated techniques employed by North Korean hackers, including the use of “living off the land” tactics. By leveraging existing, legitimate tools installed within servers, these hackers evade conventional security measures, posing a formidable challenge for detection and mitigation.
