Presumed North Korean Threat Actors Have Been Targeting Personal Email Accounts of About 100 High-Ranking South Korean Military And State Officials Since November 2022

EuRepoC

Unattributed hackers, believed to be of North Korean origin, initiated a cyberattack on the personal email accounts of approximately 100 high-ranking South Korean officials, including military generals, officials of the Defense Ministry, as well as experts in foreign policy and security, commencing in November 2022. The disclosure of this breach was made by South Korean police on 21 May 2024. The South Korean military and police have launched a joint investigation into the intrusion and suspect that North Korean state-sponsored hacker groups are behind the attack. The compromised email addresses were used for personal purposes and were not connected to official military networks. Spokesman Jeon Ha-gyu clarified that while the reported number of hacked accounts may be exaggerated, security measures have been stepped up to prevent further incidents. The investigation, which is still in its early stages, aims to confirm the extent of the damage and investigate the possibility of state involvement.