North Korea’s state-run news agency accused the U.S. and its allies of being behind a series of cyberattacks that have forced its web sites offline for much of the last two days.
“Intensive and persistent virus attacks are being made every day on internet servers operated by the DPRK. These cannot be construed otherwise than despicable and base acts of the hostile forces consternated by the toughest measures taken by the DPRK after launching an all-out action,” the news agency said in a commentary.
The report represents the first recognition by North Korean state media of the cyberattacks.
The handful of web sites based in the country became difficult or impossible to connect to two days ago with no explanation. North Korean web sites routinely go offline for periods of a few hours or up to a day, but this was the first time that all of the country’s web sites went offline at the same time.
“It is ridiculous, indeed, for the hostile forces to mount such virus attacks on the DPRK’s internet servers, much upset by the all-out action of its army and people to defend the sovereignty of the country and the nation. They are seriously mistaken if they think they can quell the DPRK’s voices of justice through such base acts,” KCNA said.
The news agency offered no details of the attack or evidence of its source.
Just as with South Korea’s occasional allegations that the north is behind attacks on its Internet services, it’s almost impossible to find the true source of an Internet attack. Hackers will often take several steps to disguise their identity and location so an attack that looks like it’s coming from one place is actually coming from another.
At time of writing, all North Korean web sites are accessible.
The full report is below.
Pyongyang, March 15 (KCNA) — There are very disturbing developments against the backdrop of the ever mounting moves of the U.S. and its allies to stifle the DPRK.
Intensive and persistent virus attacks are being made every day on internet servers operated by the DPRK. These cannot be construed otherwise than despicable and base acts of the hostile forces consternated by the toughest measures taken by the DPRK after launching an all-out action.
What should not be overlooked is that such cyber attack is timed to coincide with the madcap Key Resolve joint military exercises being staged by the U.S. and other hostile forces.
It is nobody’s secret that the U.S. and south Korean puppet regime are massively bolstering up cyber forces in a bid to intensify the subversive activities and sabotages against the DPRK.
The DPRK will never remain a passive onlooker to the enemies’ cyber attacks that have reached a very grave phase as part of their moves to stifle it.
It is ridiculous, indeed, for the hostile forces to mount such virus attacks on the DPRK’s internet servers, much upset by the all-out action of its army and people to defend the sovereignty of the country and the nation.
They are seriously mistaken if they think they can quell the DPRK’s voices of justice through such base acts.
The U.S. and its allies should be held wholly accountable for the ensuing consequences. — KCNA, March 15, 2013.
