Cyber Attacking North Korea
The latest news from redOrbit and CNN reports that the North Korean government claims that the United States and South Korea are attacking their Internet servers. The North Korean news agency, KCNA, states that the American and South Korean governments have been using “intensive and persistent virus attacks” on North Korean Internet servers.
“It is nobody’s secret that the U.S. and the South Korean puppet regime are massively bolstering up cyberforces in a bid to intensify the subversive activities and sabotages against the DPRK,” according to the official KCNA report.
This is just the latest propaganda from the Democratic People’s Republic Korea. They are trying to stir the emotions of the civilian population within North Korea. I personally don’t believe that the American government is concentrating their efforts into having computer viruses attack the North Korean Internet servers.
To be 100 percent honest, I do not know that much about computers or hacking computers. However, I find it extremely hard to believe that the United States and the South Korean’s way of plotting against North Korea is by putting viruses on their computers. The North Koreans who use the Internet probably keep clicking on the “meet singles in your area now” ads, and keep getting spyware from there. Granted, that is my own theory. But if your little brother can believe that hot sexy singles want to meet him, how would someone who has limited technological skills know the difference at first?
I believe that if either the United States or South Korea wanted to hack into the North Korean computers, it would be an easy challenge for the United States and a walk in the park for the South Koreans. Yes, I may be stereotyping that South Koreans are excellent with technology, but from what I have witnessed they are.
If we really wanted to hack into North Korea, and if you believe in legends, then Anonymous could do it in a matter of hours. I am not advocating illegal activity, but their record of getting things done is extremely impressive.
When the US Department of Justice and the FBI shut down Megaupload in early 2012, Anonymous was able to effectively shut down the DOJ and FBI websites, as well as the websites of the Motion Picture Association of America, Recording Industry Association of America, and Broadcast Music, Inc.
If they can accomplish all of this within a matter of hours against sophisticated systems, think about what they could do to the less able North Korean internet system.
The foreseeable problem is that North Korea will of course go ballistic, and I do mean that in the literal term. They could take it as an act of war, and things could really get dicey on the peninsula.
The worst part is that Kim Jong Un is an untested leader and the world really doesn’t know what he wants to do or what his real intentions are going to be. The news releases that are received from the North make it seem like we are headed back to war.
The biggest glimmer of hope, in my opinion, is that when Dennis Rodman visited North Korea recently, Rodman said that Kim Jong Un stated he didn’t want to go to war or fight.
Image Credit: Matthias Pahl / Shutterstock
About John Van Uytven
John grew up on a grain and animal farm in South Central Illinois. His family has owned the same farm for 150 years. With an abundance of history around him, and many good teachers over the years, he was inspired to pursue a career in History. He graduated in 2009 with a BA in History. He is currently living abroad in South Korea teaching English to children and learning about Korean culture. He loves driving his motorcycle around Korea seeing the beautiful mountains and scenery that Korea has to offer. One aspect he truly enjoys of living in Korea is trying different foods and cooking in his home. He has found a love for spicy food that was once never thought possible. At one time even the thought of regular pepper in something was too much for him. Now, he regularly enjoys Indian curries and Thai dishes. When he is not traveling, he can be found playing poker or working on a new hobby; the newest of which is trying to learn how to play the guitar. This has been more problematic than previously thought. He is also a dedicated Browncoat. Keep flying and stay shiny.