South Korea has announced that two chip manufacturing companies in the country have been targeted by North Korean hackers.
According to a report by Yonhap, a written statement from South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) indicated that North Korean hackers infiltrated the servers of two chip equipment companies in December 2023 and last month, seizing product designs and facility photographs.
The statement included an assessment that North Korean hackers may be targeting South Korean chip manufacturers in relation to the country's weapons, missile, and satellite programs. In this context, it was stated that "North Korea may be turning to producing its own chips due to difficulties in procuring them because of sanctions."
The NIS statement warned companies that produce chips and chip components to be cautious against cyberattacks.
It is known that North Korean hackers carry out attacks targeting virtual assets, official documents, and defense industry activities in many countries, particularly South Korea.
On the other hand, it was stated that these hackers have stolen approximately 3 billion dollars worth of virtual assets since 2016.
International observers have stated that these stolen funds may have been used to provide resources for North Korea's sanctioned nuclear and missile programs.
News Source: AA
