[Photo by Park Sae-jin]
South Korea's spy agency on Tuesday accused North Korea of hacking into the smartphones of dozens of South Korean government officials in a cyber attack that began in late February.
Information such as text messages and phone conversation have been stolen, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in a report to a meeting of 14 government bodies.
North Korean hackers have sent text messages to South Korean officials in an attempt to spread malicious software, it said, adding about 20 percent of the smartphones were infected, leaking the phone numbers of other officials involved in security and foreign affairs.
A separate attack was launched in February against South Korean makers of software used widely for Internet banking and payment but failed to control them because of quick steps by security experts, the agency said.
NIS officials said the latest hacking was probably aimed at securing a foothold for a massive cyber attack as it did in 2013 to hack into South Korean financial institutions.
Concern about North Korea's cyber attack grew following its nuclear and long-range rocket tests this year.
The spy agency also accused North Korean hackers of having spread malware consistently in recent months to the computer networks of South Korea's railway system and other key state organizations.
Last month National Police Agency head Kang Sin-myeong said North Korea was behind the distribution of malicious e-mails, which were disguised as being sent by officials at South Korea's presidential office or foreign ministry to state research institutions.
Internet Protocol addresses used in the attack were traced to China's northeastern province of Liaoning bordering North Korea, he said, adding it was the same network used in December 2014, when Seoul accused Pyongyang of launching a cyber attack on South Korea's nuclear power plant operator.
South Korea has blamed North Korean hackers for deploying malware and virus-carry emails for a series of cyber attacks on military institutions, banks, government agencies, TV broadcasters and media websites in recent years.
North Korea has denied any involvement in alleged cyberattacks on South Korea.
South Korea has strengthened Internet security since it set up a special cyber command in 2010, amid growing concern over its vulnerability.
The South's Defence Ministry believes North Korea runs an elite cyber warfare unit with up to 6,000 personnel and regards its ability to launch hacking attacks as a major security threat.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
