14 DAY TRIAL // The South Korean army claims that its military secrets are continuously being threatened by North Korean espionage attacks. The most recent attack covered by South Korean newspapers seems to have taken place from behind the computer desk. The English version of the Chosun news website claims that its journalists have information that back up the verity of spyware attacks performed on the military. According to the source, a colonel received a spyware email, which also included a program designed to facilitate access to all the files on the affected computer.
However, the members of the South Korean army, having already come across several such threats from their Northern neighbors over the course of time, did not fall for the malicious email. Thanks to that, no confidential military information has fallen into the hands of the wrong persons, or at least, that has been the official line so far.
The South Korean newspaper also mentions another case of espionage that made the headlines of international publications. A North Korean woman, claiming to be a refugee, acquired important information on about a hundred military, by using her charms alone. Even more, Won Jeong-hwa delivered the email addresses written on the badges worn by South Korean officers to her superiors. The emails were then employed in hacking attacks. The woman is now facing execution, having been charged with treason.
“North Korea trains hackers. It established an electronic warfare bureau at the North Korean Army's General Staff in accordance with leader Kim Jong-il's instruction in the mid-1980s to prepare for the new battleground.” reads a piece from the Seoul-based newspaper.
On the other side of the Ocean, American security expert Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos, is convinced that the country making all these allegations is not that innocent either. “Is it likely that North Korea is using the internet to spy on other countries? Of course. But it is also likely that South Korea is doing the same right back.” he says. Without directly expressing his approval, he still believes that the Internet is too great a resource to be employed only in leisure activities. “Countries are spying on each other all across the world for political, commercial and military advantage - and they would be crazy not to try and exploit the power of the internet to increase their chances of success.” he says.