February 14, 2024 at 11:39AM
North Korean hackers breached the personal emails of a South Korean President’s staff member before his Europe trip. The cyberattack only affected the staff member’s personal account, and security protocols were violated by using commercial email services for official duties. Yoon’s office detected the breach in advance and ensured overall security was not compromised. Despite constant hacking attempts, the presidential office’s security system remained secure. North Korea is accused of a large-scale hacking program, targeting governments, businesses, and financial institutions. A U.N. panel is investigating 58 suspected North Korean cyberattacks valued at $3 billion, allegedly used to fund its weapons development. North Korea has been linked to major cyberattacks in the past.
From the meeting notes, it is clear that there was a cyberattack on the personal emails of a staff member of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office ahead of his trip to Europe in November. The attack was attributed to presumed North Korean hackers. It was mentioned that the staff member violated security protocols by partially using commercial email services for official duties. The overall security system of Yoon’s office was not affected.
The statement from the office emphasized that necessary measures were taken in advance of Yoon’s visit, and they have been monitoring and defending against constant hacking attempts. Additionally, it was noted that North Korea runs a large, government-backed hacking program accused of stealing money for its nuclear weapons and missile program. The activities of North Korean-backed hackers, including cyberattacks and theft of information, were also highlighted.
Furthermore, a report obtained by The Associated Press revealed that a U.N. panel of experts is investigating 58 suspected North Korean cyberattacks between 2017 and 2023 valued at approximately $3 billion. The money is reportedly being used to fund the development of weapons of mass destruction. The report also mentioned North Korea’s denial of involvement but highlighted the country’s link to major cyberattacks in the past, including attacks on South Korean financial institutions, Sony Pictures, and the WannaCry malware attack.
The meeting notes also included references to new macOS malware and the hacking of an internet infrastructure provider by North Korean APT.