By Kang Seung-woo
The Ministry of National Defense is now fully integrating cyber warfare into military operations amid growing security threats, military officials said Monday.
In addition, the Cyber Command, which deals with the mission, will be put under the control of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The cyber warfare unit, established in 2010 to counter North Korean cyber attacks including hacking attempts, currently takes orders from the defense minister.
"The government has been pushing to revise the Cyber Command Decree to have the JCS chairman control cyber warfare and other actions in case where they are considered necessary for traditional military operations," a ministry official said.
The Cyber Command's activities have been regarded more as administrative measures rather than military operations and the unit recently decided to drop its long-held defensive tactics in cyber warfare and instead initiate proactive operations to better guard against online infiltrations in the wake of growing threats.
"As cyber operations cannot be separated from physical military operations on land, at sea and in the air, it is necessary for the JCS chief to arrange and control the Cyber Command's missions," another ministry official said.
The defense ministry plans to have a grace period until the end of next month before the revision goes into effect.
The revision comes as the North's cyber attacks are on the rise of late in size and power.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un founded a cyber warfare unit in August 2012 with the number of its personnel reaching nearly 6,000.
"Since June, the North has increased hacking emails to retired and active soldiers," said a military official.
He said the North used to attack the websites of the South's military four to five times per month, but the number has surged to more than 20 since June.
Along with the North's cyber forces, neighboring countries have strengthened their cyber capabilities.
The United States formed its 80,000-personnel Cyber Command in May 2010 and plans to increase its manpower by some 8,600 by 2016, while China also created a cyber warfare unit the same year, with 400,000 staff.
Japan also established the Cyber Defense Unit (CDU) in March to detect and respond to attacks on the defense ministry and its Self-Defense Forces.
The Ministry of National Defense is now fully integrating cyber warfare into military operations amid growing security threats, military officials said Monday.
In addition, the Cyber Command, which deals with the mission, will be put under the control of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The cyber warfare unit, established in 2010 to counter North Korean cyber attacks including hacking attempts, currently takes orders from the defense minister.
"The government has been pushing to revise the Cyber Command Decree to have the JCS chairman control cyber warfare and other actions in case where they are considered necessary for traditional military operations," a ministry official said.
The Cyber Command's activities have been regarded more as administrative measures rather than military operations and the unit recently decided to drop its long-held defensive tactics in cyber warfare and instead initiate proactive operations to better guard against online infiltrations in the wake of growing threats.
"As cyber operations cannot be separated from physical military operations on land, at sea and in the air, it is necessary for the JCS chief to arrange and control the Cyber Command's missions," another ministry official said.
The defense ministry plans to have a grace period until the end of next month before the revision goes into effect.
The revision comes as the North's cyber attacks are on the rise of late in size and power.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un founded a cyber warfare unit in August 2012 with the number of its personnel reaching nearly 6,000.
"Since June, the North has increased hacking emails to retired and active soldiers," said a military official.
He said the North used to attack the websites of the South's military four to five times per month, but the number has surged to more than 20 since June.
Along with the North's cyber forces, neighboring countries have strengthened their cyber capabilities.
The United States formed its 80,000-personnel Cyber Command in May 2010 and plans to increase its manpower by some 8,600 by 2016, while China also created a cyber warfare unit the same year, with 400,000 staff.
Japan also established the Cyber Defense Unit (CDU) in March to detect and respond to attacks on the defense ministry and its Self-Defense Forces.
