DPRK hackers allegedly stole South Korea’s K2 tank data

South Korea’s People Power Party (PPP) revealed that the North Korean-backed hackers stole critical information about its nation’s primary battle tank, called K2, and its spy planes, “Baekdu” and “Geumgang.”

The PPP is concerned that the DPRK may leverage this stolen information to avoid military monitoring and acquire a significant advantage on the battlefield. Hence, the country has called for the immediate implementation of more significant measures to protect and improve national security.

 

K2 tank, also known as Black Panther, is a multi-million-dollar cost per unit.

 

Reports indicate that South Korea’s K2 tank is designed by the Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by Hyundai Rotem. It was introduced in 2008 and costs over $8 million per unit. In addition, it is the country’s main combat tank, with 260 units already in service and another 150 planned.

On the other hand, Baekdu and Geumgang are spy bases South Korea has heavily employed for border surveillance during the last two decades as they intercept wireless communications (SIGINT) and monitor North Korea’s military actions (IMINT).

According to a local media outlet last week, the K2 tank data was leaked after one of the engineers working on one of the tank’s component manufacturers moved to a competing firm, bringing design blueprints, development reports, and information about the tank’s overpressure system with them on external storage drives.

Moreover, the new company that acquired the designs and blueprints intended to transfer this technology to a Middle Eastern country, so the leak allegedly occurred outside South Korea.

On the other hand, regarding Baekdu and Geumgang, reports stated that North Koreans hacked a South Korean defence contractor that provides operational and maintenance manuals for military equipment, including the two spy planes.

The hackers stole a large number of technical details about the two planes, including data about their technology and recent technical updates, operational capabilities, and maintenance records.

South Korea is concerned that its surveillance aircraft technology theft may enable its neighbouring country to create elusive drones and effective surveillance evasion tactics.

The PPP urges all political parties in the country to set aside their differences and agree on new measures that should be implemented as soon as possible. Lastly, South Korean authorities believe these steps will help the country counteract these cyber espionage operations.