North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered extensive support for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas, as disclosed by South Korea’s National Intelligence Agency (NIS) during the 2023 audit at the National Assembly on Wednesday. NIS Director Kim Kyou-hyun informed lawmakers that Kim Jong-un’s directive involves a broad spectrum of support, possibly aiming to exploit the situation to North Korea’s advantage.
According to Rep. Yoo Sang-bum, the executive secretary for the Assembly intelligence committee, the NIS chief mentioned the potential for North Korea engaging in arms trades with militant groups. Additionally, the spy service chief highlighted the likelihood of Russia providing technology to enhance North Korea’s capabilities in launching a spy satellite.
The NIS director informed lawmakers that North Korea has been supplying arms to Russia in its conflict with Ukraine, sending artillery shells and weapons by sea multiple times since August. The amount of artillery sent is estimated to sustain Russia for at least two months in the ongoing war.
Moreover, the NIS chief reported that over 80 percent of foreign cyberattacks against South Korea originated from North Korea and China. The frequency of cyberattacks by adversaries has increased by approximately 32 percent this year compared to the previous year. Notably, North Korea has shifted its focus to targeting private companies, including popular South Korean portal site Naver.
In response to the cybersecurity concerns surrounding the National Election Commission, the ruling People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea have agreed to establish a committee for investigation. With the general election just six months away, this decision follows a joint cybersecurity evaluation conducted by the NIS and the Korea Internet and Security Agency, revealing vulnerabilities in the election watchdog’s database that could potentially lead to unauthorized access, manipulation of results, and the printing of extra ballots.
