The country may be bluffing about war, but it might be on a serious way to develop not only nuclear weapons but also weapons of mass effect – cyber terrorism. With all the articles and news reports flooding in about the North Korean military buildup and possible provocation, it is evident that the story is hot. However, it might be something else that we should keep out eyes on.
It is busy tech news days in South Korea regarding consecutive cyber attacks. While investigators have yet to pinpoint the culprit behind a synchronized cyber attacks in South Korea last week, the focus is fixed on North Korean trained team of computer-savvy “cyber warriors” as cyberspace now becomes a fertile battleground in the nations’ rivalry. Few weeks ago, malware shut down 32,000 computers and servers at three major South Korean TV networks and banks last Wednesday, disrupting communications and banking businesses. Today, the official website of the United States Forces Korea (USFK) was jammed and cannot get an access since 16 hours ago until this very moment.
Keeping in mind that Pyongyang has succeeded in launching a satellite into space aboard a long-range rocket from its own soil, and conducted its third nuclear test, it is not an exaggeration to say that “IT” has become a buzzword in North Korea. Expanding its warfare into cyberspace by developing computer codes is cheaper and faster for North Korea than building nuclear devices or other weapons of mass destructions. Even if North Korea turns out to be the attacker behind the multiple cyber attacks that took place in one or two weeks, there is no target for South Korean retaliation. In other words, they have “nothing to lose” in a cyber battle.
