Kim Jong-un Wants 'Medium-Large Warships'... North Korea Hacks Shipbuilding Industry

North Korea Launches Technology Theft Attacks Against Our Korean Shipbuilding Companies
Following Nuclear Submarine Reveal, Focuses on Strengthening 'Naval Power'
National Intelligence Service: "Kim Jong-un Orders Construction of Medium and Large Warships"

Recently, North Korea, which has been focusing on strengthening its naval forces, has been revealed to have launched hacking attacks against our shipbuilding industry in the second half of the year. Intelligence authorities analyzed that, following Kim Jong-un's directive to acquire 'medium to large-sized warships,' North Korea, lacking technological capability, has been attempting to steal technology from our side.

According to the National Intelligence Service on the 4th, intelligence authorities detected multiple cases of cyberattacks attempted by North Korean hacking groups against prominent shipbuilding companies during August and September. A National Intelligence Service official stated, "North Korea is conducting intensive hacking attacks targeting our shipbuilding companies to strengthen its naval military power," adding, "This is believed to be in line with Kim Jong-un's directive to build 'medium to large-sized warships.'"

Launching Ceremony of North Korea's Tactical Nuclear Attack Submarine 'Kim Gun-ok Hero Ship' Revealed in September [Image Source=Yonhap News]

North Korea has recently placed emphasis on strengthening its naval military power. Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, made a direct inspection of naval units in August, followed by appearances at the launching ceremony of the tactical nuclear attack submarine 'Kim Gun-ok Hero Ship' in September. During a recent visit to Russia, he also showed great interest in naval force enhancement by inspecting Russia's destroyer 'Marshal Shaposhnikov.'

Although North Korean state media reports released so far have not mentioned Kim Jong-un issuing a directive to build 'medium to large-sized warships,' he recently visited a ship engine manufacturing enterprise and presented a 'revolutionary struggle policy related to strengthening naval military power.' The 'Kim Jong-un's directive to build medium to large-sized warships' mentioned by the National Intelligence Service is presumed to have been made during this process.

National Intelligence Service building exterior [Photo by National Intelligence Service]

According to intelligence authorities, the hacking methods used by North Korean hacking groups against our shipbuilding companies included ▲occupying PCs of IT maintenance companies to infiltrate indirectly, and ▲distributing phishing emails targeting internal employees of shipbuilding companies to install malware.

The National Intelligence Service has notified the affected companies of the related facts and is supporting security measures. It has also requested major shipbuilding companies, which are expected to be potential attack targets, to conduct their own security inspections. Specifically, they urged ▲separation of work networks and internet networks, ▲checking issues with remote access programs between maintenance companies and client companies, and ▲prohibiting access to suspicious emails and websites.