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S. Korean military operation plan infiltrated by N. Korean hackers

S. Korean military operation plan infiltrated by N. Korean hackers

Posted December. 09, 2016 07:11,   

Updated December. 09, 2016 07:22

한국어

It was reported on Thursday that part of the operation plans of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces to respond to an all-out war against North Korea was leaked.

It has also been reported that the military Internet and intranet (defense network) have been infiltrated by hackers presumed to be North Korean, exposing some provisional operation plans for large-scaled joint military drills for the U.S. and South Korean militaries including the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian (UFG). Though the stolen part was not in entirety, military officials explain that the case practically constitutes a leak of confidential information as the leaked data was drawn up based on the actual operation plans.

“It has been confirmed that hackers presumed to be from North Korea, have stolen part of the Joint Chief of Staff data that contains operation plans,” said several news sources. “We cannot rule out the possibility of making major modifications on the operation plans now that the enemy state has practically secured the response plan of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces.”

Typically classified as level 1 or level 2 confidential information, operation plans contain the phased response measures against a possible North Korean attack such as retreat and reorganization, counterattack, reinforcement of U.S. forces, strikes on North Korean nuclear and military bases, and the purge of North Korean leadership. Starting this year, the ROK-U.S. combined forces have been using Operation Plan 5015 for their joint exercises, which was completed last year to replace the existing Operation Plan 5027.

The South Korean military authorities indirectly denied the exposure of an operation plan, saying that the battlefield network, which is used to exchange core military intelligence, has not been hacked,” but concern is growing as the stolen data may pose a grave threat to national security.

“It is presumed that the PCs used by special forces have also been infected by malicious codes, and in the process, some data containing special operation plans against the North have been stolen as well,” said the news source of the government. It has been reported that the confidential information has been exposed through the defense network infected by malicious codes instead of the battlefield network.



Hyo-Ju Son hjson@donga.com