National Intelligence Chief Warns of Growing Cyber Threats from North Korea

20th Anniversary of National Cybersecurity Center

“Please firmly protect the freedom and democracy of South Korea by ensuring there are no gaps in the preparedness of cyberspace.”

On the 20th, at the 20th anniversary of the National Cybersecurity Center, Cho Tae Yong, the Director of the National Intelligence Service, revealed this: “The attack methods of threatening forces, including North Korea, are becoming increasingly diverse, complex, and sophisticated.”

The National Intelligence Service opened the National Cybersecurity Center on February 20, 2004, for a comprehensive and systematic national response to cyber safety, following an incident where the domestic internet was paralyzed for several hours due to the Slammer Worm virus on January 25, 2003. Since then, in January 2021, the center’s name was changed from the National Cyber Safety Center to the National Cybersecurity Center, and a unified national response system was established to prepare for cyber attacks by state-backed hacking organizations and cooperation with major foreign countries being expanded. In November 2022, the National Cybersecurity Cooperation Center was also opened under the center for quick and effective joint civilian-government response in times of crisis. Director Cho said, “The National Cybersafety Center started a path that no one had taken 20 years ago,” and explained, “It has made strenuous efforts for a comprehensive and systematic national response to cyber threats.”

At this event, current and former dispatched officials from related agencies such as the Financial Services Commission, Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, military, prosecution, police, Financial Security Institute, and Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) participated.