From theregister.com
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has warned North Korea is attacking its shipbuilding sector.
“Security recently reported that North Korea has targeted our shipbuilding companies to strengthen its naval military power,” explained [PDF] the intelligence agency, via machine translation.
According to the alert, the attacks were launched in August and September, with phishing emails sent to maritime industry employees and IT contractors. As ever, clicking on the mails deployment of malicious code.
NIS suggested the attacks were likely at North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s direction as he wants inteligence that will help his Navy build medium to large ships.
The hermit kingdom’s leader reportedly declared last month he wanted to “set forth an important modernization” of the Pukjung Machine Complex – a facility that produces marine engines, and to alter “the development direction of the shipbuilding industry.”
NIS has warned the relevant companies, and warned that attacks on the industry are expected to continue on shipbuilders and component manufacturers.