North Korea Intensively Hacks Electronic Warfare Equipment [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Baekdu and Geumgang Reconnaissance Aircraft Electronic Warfare-Related
Cooperation Partner Technologies Targeted in Manuals and More

It has been confirmed that North Korea attempted hacking primarily targeting domestic defense companies producing electronic warfare equipment. It is reported that technical data related to the Baekdu reconnaissance aircraft and Geumgang reconnaissance aircraft, which are South Korea's military aerial reconnaissance assets for North Korea, were leaked.

A government official stated, "North Korea is attempting widespread hacking targeting our defense companies and their subcontractors," adding, "I understand that investigations have been ongoing since the latter half of last year."

The case is currently under investigation by the National Police Agency's Cyber Security Investigation Unit. Recently, North Korea has been attempting to leak data and technology from subcontractors of small and medium-sized defense companies, whose security systems are relatively vulnerable, rather than large defense firms. The subcontractor targeted in this hacking attack is known to be a comprehensive logistics support (ILS) related company that produces military equipment operation manuals and electronic manuals.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

North Korea has been cultivating electronic warfare officers since the 1980s. The Automation University (commonly known as Mirim University) located in Mirim-dong, Hyongjesan District, Pyongyang, is affiliated with the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, where students receive five years of education. Majors include command automation, electronic computers (computing), programming, technical reconnaissance, and electronic warfare, with about 100 experts graduating annually. The Automation University is a gathering of North Korea's top military brains and is also called the "Gifted University." Students are selected mainly from those with the highest academic achievements at Kim Il Sung University, Kim Chaek University of Technology, Pyongyang University of Mechanical Engineering, and Pyongsong Science College. Graduates are commissioned as second lieutenants and assigned as computer officers in the People's Army. In the early days of the Automation University, computer experts from the former Soviet Union were invited, but later graduates were appointed as university-affiliated researchers.

Training Officers at Automation University Since the 1980s

Electronic warfare officers who graduated from here are equipped with electronic warfare equipment capable of temporarily disrupting the Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Forces ground flight command system, including radar jamming and communication interception. North Korea possesses about 20 types of various communication and radar jamming devices imported from the former Soviet Union and has independently developed new electronic warfare attack equipment such as GPS jammers with a maximum ground jamming range of 150 to 200 km. Recently, North Korea has developed new electronic warfare attack equipment with a maximum ground jamming range exceeding 100 km. North Korea's electronic warfare units are deployed as one regiment in the Pyongyang area and one battalion each in the frontline corps. Until now, it was known that North Korea had introduced Russian-made vehicle-mounted jamming equipment capable of GPS jamming within a 50 to 100 km range and deployed them in two to three areas near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

Last month, North Korea publicly announced electronic warfare unit training. Although the training was conducted army-wide, five electronic warfare detachments selected at the discretion of the General Staff's Combat Training Bureau participated in training held at the electronic warfare training ground on the outskirts of Pyongyang and major bases. According to the training schedule released by the General Staff's Combat Training Bureau, basic electronic warfare technical training was conducted for each detachment, including ▲radio interference and jamming techniques training ▲enemy communication network detection and jamming training ▲hacking and cyber defense technical exercises ▲real-time reconnaissance and jamming training using new drones.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Possibility of North Korea Developing EMP Warheads Following Electronic Warfare Equipment

There is also a possibility that North Korea is developing electromagnetic pulse (EMP) warheads that can disable enemy electromagnetic systems. A Ministry of National Defense official said, "There is no confirmed fact regarding North Korea's possession of EMP warheads," but added, "Considering North Korea's trend in developing new electronic warfare equipment and the global trend in EMP warhead development, it is possible that North Korea will develop them in the future." EMP refers to weapons that minimize human casualties while disabling the operation of enemy weapons' electrical and electronic devices.

If North Korea detonates a nuclear weapon over Seoul, an extremely intense electromagnetic wave is generated instantaneously. When a nuclear bomb explodes, a massive amount of gamma rays (light with very short wavelength and high energy) is emitted, spreading spherically in all directions. If the explosion occurs at an altitude above 30 km, the effect is amplified due to the very low air density. This can cause damage such as destruction of electronic devices, power outages, and communication disruptions over a wide area. It is reported that underground cables located hundreds of kilometers away can also be damaged. Since all electronic devices stop functioning, recovery takes a long time. A huge quantity of transformers, cables, and electronic components must be imported from abroad, and transportation means are lost.

Besides detonating a nuclear weapon in the air to conduct an EMP attack, EMP attacks can be carried out without using nuclear weapons. However, the attack radius is narrow, ranging from several hundred meters to several kilometers, and is mainly designed to target specific facilities such as military installations, nuclear power plants, power transmission stations, and communication facilities. During the 2003 Iraq War, the U.S. military executed a non-nuclear EMP attack against Iraqi state broadcasting.