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South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday redoubled calls for robust cyberdefense against North Korea, saying cyberwarfare with the provocative state has already begun.
Following a suspected hacking by Pyongyang of Seoul's cyber command intranet, Hwang and South Korean security officials have repeatedly stressed the need to prepare against the North's surreptitious cyberattacks, which could be as devastating as physical military strikes.
"As evidenced in the recent hack of the (South's) defense ministry, North Korea has attempted to mount cyberattacks on major government facilities, and (this shows) cyberwarfare has already begun," he said during the first regular Cabinet meeting since he took over as acting president last Friday after President Park Geun-hye was impeached over a corruption scandal.
"Related ministries, including the ministries of defense and future planning, must devise thorough measures to prevent any recurrence (of hacking incidents) and take special caution not to allow any minor mistakes to threaten our security," he added.
The defense ministry said last week that a total of 3,200 computers, including 700 linked with the intranet, were contaminated with malware in August. The computer used by Defense Minister Han Min-koo was also affected, officials said.
In recent years, Seoul has been pushing to bolster its cyberdefense capabilities as Pyongyang has launched a host of attacks on South Korean corporate and government websites by mobilizing its specially trained personnel, including those based in China and other foreign countries.
The reclusive regime has denied responsibility for its cyberattacks including the latest one, upbraiding Seoul for "fabricating" claims about online attacks.
Reiterating his vow to focus on stabilizing state affairs, crippled by the political scandal involving Park and her longtime confidante, the acting president said that stable state governance can only be possible "when there is robust security."
Hwang, in addition, ordered the government to check the nation's financial, traffic, broadcasting and energy networks, and other major national facilities to verify if they are exposed to any cybersecurity threats.
On the economic front, Hwang pointed out that the country's economic fundamentals remain strong as Seoul has striven to maintain economic policy consistency despite political uncertainties sparked by the corruption scandal.
The acting president also urged economic officials to keep close tabs on financial and foreign exchange markets as he pointed to the potential negative ramifications from a possible United States' interest hike.
"I call on you to closely monitor the market situation and respond to it in a timely and resolute manner," he said.
Hwang went on to urge the Cabinet ministers to make concerted efforts to protect the socially vulnerable, including children from low-income families and senior citizens, particularly during the winter season.
Later in the day, Hwang held a luncheon meeting with senior professors and journalists as part of his efforts to solicit their views on ways to bring the nation, gripped by the scandal, back on track.
Hwang renewed his pledge to focus on forestalling any government vacuum and restoring stability in state governance.
Participants stressed the need to strengthen cooperation with political circles over state affairs and ensure that the government maintains close ties with the transition team of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
(YONHAP)
