hankyoreh

July 9

Controversy is growing as the National Intelligence Service (NIS) has failed to present any specific evidence to back up its claim that “North Korea or forces loyal to North Korea” were the source of a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack on major government and business Internet sites, including those of the Cheong Wa Dae (the presidential office in South Korea or Blue House) and the NIS itself. In particular, with a Ministry of National Defense official declaring on Thursday that he has “not yet received a report with evidence about those responsible,” the Grand National Party (GNP) pressing for enactment of a “cyber terrorism prevention law,” and the Democratic Party and other opposition parties responding by saying the North Korea issue is once again being used for political ends, speculation about those behind the cyber attack is becoming a contentious political issue.

In a press release Thursday, the NIS said, “In connection with the DDOS attack that is disrupting the computer networks of major domestic organizations, the NIS is strengthening its readiness posture against the possibility of a third attack.” In reference to the parties responsible, it said that it “has requested the confirmation of corresponding data from the countries involved, including the U.S., to find the culprits” and it hopes “to be able to confirm the parties responsible once the data analysis results have been received.” Some observers interpret this as a stalling tactic since the NIS has not yet presented any evidence to support its speculation about North Korean responsibility it made public on Wednesday.

However, while attending a meeting of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee Thursday afternoon, The Ministry of National Defense official Kim Jae-shin said that he has not yet received a report with formal evidence about those responsible. When GNP Lawmaker Kim Young-woo asked him if he knew why the NIS pointed to North Korea as the culprit of the cyber attack, Kim responded that he did not. He also said, “I am aware that the NIS, the police and the Defense Security Command are currently tracking the source of the cyber attack, and will have to do a bit more.” Analysts say this suggests concrete evidence has not yet been secured at the government level by the NIS or the Ministry of National Defense to back up NIS speculation about North Korea’s responsibility for the attacks.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that the U.S. has been unable as yet to determine the identity of the parties responsible for the cyber attack against South Korea and the U.S. Internet sites, but that it is carefully watching for the possibility of North Korea’s involvement. The AP reported three officials with the U.S. government who wished to remain anonymous said Internet addresses for the attacks had been traced to North Korea, but that this did not necessarily indicate involvement by the North Korean government. However, U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in a regular briefing that an investigation of the large-scale cyber attacks was underway, but that they could not yet “confirm the source of attacks.”

Political offensives have also been gaining force. The Democratic Party and other opposition parties are alleging that the NIS is attempting a “cyber bukpung,” referring to the strategic use of the North Korea issue for political ends. The parties are saying that the incident is being used by the NIS to provide justification for passing cyber crisis management and terrorism prevention legislation that had lost steam due to controversy over human rights infringements.

At a high-level policy meeting Thursday, DP floor leader Lee Kang-rae said, “Speculation from the NIS pointing to North Korea without any basis and while the investigating authorities having not yet even grasped the reality of the situation, is causing concerns about ‘cyber bukpung.’” Lee added, “If there is a hidden plot to push terrorism prevention legislation behind this, I will not sit idly by and watch it happen.”

DP spokesperson Woo Wi-young said, “There is a large invisible hand at work trying to now pass cyber terror prevention legislation that was on the verge of being forgotten.” Woo added, “The priority should not be placed on passing terrorism prevention legislation, but on finding a solution to what we realize now is the weak Internet security of the Cheong Wa Dae, the government and the NIS.”

Meanwhile, GNP lawmakers such as Gong Sung-jin, Kim Young-woo, Kang Seok-ho and Yoon Sang-hyun issued a statement Thursday urging passage of the cyber crisis management law. “We saw this incident coming and had prepared cyber terrorism prevention legislation during the 17th National Assembly, but opposition parties and certain civic groups opposed it, calling it an ‘MB bad law,’” said Supreme Council member Gong, who spearheaded the statement.

Gong also referred to the Democratic Party as a ”bunch of street thugs who are not interested in the security of the nation and the people.“

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]