Cyberattack surge on unification ministry raises fears over DPRK-related data



News Cyberattack surge on unification ministry raises fears over DPRK-related data However, despite threefold increase of attempted cyberattacks in 2024, South Korean ministry says no damage reported Joon Ha Park \| Shreyas Reddy February 19, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Korea Internet Security Center personnel reviewing cybersecurity \| Image: Korea Internet and Security Agency Cyberattacks targeting South Korea’s unification ministry surged nearly threefold in 2024, raising concerns’ about potential leaks of North Korean escapees’ personal information, according to ministry data obtained by NK News. The ministry faced 1,068 cyberattack attempts in 2024, up from 397 in 2023, according to a data report provided to NK News by ruling People Power Party lawmaker Yu Yong-weon’s office. The number of attempted intrusions was largely consistent over the past three years, numbering 338 and 330 in 2021 and 2022, respectively, but the previous few years also represented a relative low after 2020’s 633 attempts. The attacks © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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Cyberattack surge on unification ministry raises fears over DPRK-related data

However, despite threefold increase of attempted cyberattacks in 2024, South Korean ministry says no damage reported

Joon Ha Park | Shreyas Reddy February 19, 2025

Cyberattack surge on unification ministry raises fears over DPRK-related data

Korea Internet Security Center personnel reviewing cybersecurity | Image: Korea Internet and Security Agency

Cyberattacks targeting South Korea’s unification ministry surged nearly threefold in 2024, raising concerns’ about potential leaks of North Korean escapees’ personal information, according to ministry data obtained by NK News.

The ministry faced 1,068 cyberattack attempts in 2024, up from 397 in 2023, according to a data report provided to NK News by ruling People Power Party lawmaker Yu Yong-weon’s office.

The number of attempted intrusions was largely consistent over the past three years, numbering 338 and 330 in 2021 and 2022, respectively, but the previous few years also represented a relative low after 2020’s 633 attempts.

The attacks

About the Authors

Joon Ha Park

Joon Ha Park is a correspondent at Korea Risk Group. He has previously written on issues related to the two Koreas at The Peninsula Report, and appeared on ABC News Australia, Deutsche Welle and Monocle Radio. He specializes in offering in-depth analyses of South Korea’s defense policy, security relations and domestic politics for Korea Pro.

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Shreyas Reddy

Shreyas Reddy is the Lead Correspondent at NK News, based in Seoul. He previously worked as a researcher at BBC Monitoring, where his work focused on news and key people and organizations from the Korean Peninsula, Japan, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Follow him on Twitter.

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