The Cyber Threat from Pyongyang
Contents
05 January 2023
SYNOPSIS
Poverty-stricken North Korea spends a lot of its national resources on the military, including cyber, capabilities. Its cyber units, especially Bureau 121, are assumed to possess sophisticated cyber espionage capabilities, operating systems, and intrusion software; and the expertise to create highly destructive malware deliverable online to networked computers, or to standalone systems autonomous of the internet. Military and national security planners must implement relevant threat mitigation measures in the face of Pyongyang’s cyber offensives.
COMMENTARY
North Korea’s numerous missile tests in 2022, amid fears that it could also test a nuclear device, amounted to a well-worn strategy designed to put pressure on the US, South Korea, and Japan. However, it is inconceivable that Pyongyang would actually launch ballistic missiles at any of these countries as this would invite massive retaliation from the US and its allies. North Korea is more likely to continue with its cyber operations, which have been …
SYNOPSIS
Poverty-stricken North Korea spends a lot of its national resources on the military, including cyber, capabilities. Its cyber units, especially Bureau 121, are assumed to possess sophisticated cyber espionage capabilities, operating systems, and intrusion software; and the expertise to create highly destructive malware deliverable online to networked computers, or to standalone systems autonomous of the internet. Military and national security planners must implement relevant threat mitigation measures in the face of Pyongyang’s cyber offensives.
COMMENTARY
North Korea’s numerous missile tests in 2022, amid fears that it could also test a nuclear device, amounted to a well-worn strategy designed to put pressure on the US, South Korea, and Japan. However, it is inconceivable that Pyongyang would actually launch ballistic missiles at any of these countries as this would invite massive retaliation from the US and its allies. North Korea is more likely to continue with its cyber operations, which have been …