North Korea hacker threat grows as cyber unit grows: defector

It has been alleged that North Korea is secretly polishing its best university graduates to become computer geniuses, even by sending them abroad for further training just as their plan to enlarge its cyber warfare. It was revealed by a defector this Wednesday as he highlighted the previous cyber attacks by North and the amplified risk right today.

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The South has previously alleged the North for being responsible for a series of computer hack attacks this year, one of which was an "unprecedented act of cyber terror" in April that took down the entire computer network of the most important South Korean bank. Addressing a seminar on cyber terrorism in the South, Kim Heung-kwang, an official stated: "North Korea last year raised the status of its cyber warfare unit under the Reconnaissance General Bureau and increased the number of troops in the unit from 500 to about 3,000."

Kim is a runaway from the North, as he left the country in 2003 but now heads a defectors' group called North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity. Kim had been a professor at different colleges of North, so according to his sources, he claims that "these prodigies are provided with the best environment, and if they graduate with top grades, their parents in the provinces are given the opportunity to live in Pyongyang." He also added that "after studying at local universities, these students are given the special privilege of continuing their studies abroad."

Many analysts and other prominent figures have already alerted the North to discontinue any unconventional attacks it has been carrying against the South. The restrains between the countries are also tightened by several traditional military assaults like the shelling of a South Korean island last year which killed four people. The South has now publically warned that if ‘Pyongyang’ launches any other military assault next, it will strike back with nothing less than air power and bombs.

Furthermore, South Korea has also drafted a defense white paper earlier this year which gives formal warning that in case of anymore cyber attacks from the North it will retaliate in same capacity. The threat from North has definitely increased, but now the South also claims that it has become more intelligent and virulent. Just last month, the South accused the North for being the mastermind behind the computer crash at Nonghyup bank which affected millions of customers, despite the refutations by the North. South has also blamed the North Korean hackers for various hack attacks on government and corporate websites.