By Jun Ji-hye
The website of the Air Force has remained shut down since it was hacked about two weeks ago, officials said Wednesday.
The military has not ruled out the possibility that North Korea was behind the hacking attack.
"Malignant code was found in the website program, so the Air Force stopped operating the website from May 12," an Air Force official said on condition of anonymity.
"The Air Force is currently operating a temporary website to provide public services such as information on conscription and other notices that affect the public."
The Air Force and the Cyber Warfare Command are carrying out an investigation to find out how the site was hacked, and whether there has been any leakage of classified information.
"Authorities are analyzing the type of the malignant code to find out who planted it in the program and why," another official said, adding the hacking could have been carried out by North Koreans.
The Air Force said that there have been no reports about damage incurred from the hacking so far, adding that a leakage of military information is impossible because the Air Force's website is separate from internal networks.
Recently, there has been a rise in hacking attempts targeting the military and military-related organizations, which led critics to call the military's cyber capabilities into questions.
In April, Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction, a South Korean builder of naval warships, including the nation's largest military transport ship, the Dokdo, was hacked.
Korean Air, which produces unmanned aerial vehicles, has also reportedly suffered a hacking attack.
On May 12, the military launched an investigation after it received a report that unknown emails were sent to local defense companies and arms-trading agencies. Investigators said that the sender impersonated an official from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
legislative affairs after he was elected as the parliamentary speaker in May 2014 and quit the party in line with the National Assembly regulation.
He has not decided whether to return to the party.
"My primary concerns are whether the Saenuri Party officials are capable of reforming the party," he said, referring to prolonged factional struggle within the party after its defeat in the April 13 general election. "I will wait and see what I can do."
Some political sources speculated that he may join hands with Sohn Hak-gyu, a former advisor to the MPK, and set up a new party.
"I'm open to establishing a new party although I have not made up my mind yet," he said.
The website of the Air Force has remained shut down since it was hacked about two weeks ago, officials said Wednesday.
The military has not ruled out the possibility that North Korea was behind the hacking attack.
"Malignant code was found in the website program, so the Air Force stopped operating the website from May 12," an Air Force official said on condition of anonymity.
"The Air Force is currently operating a temporary website to provide public services such as information on conscription and other notices that affect the public."
The Air Force and the Cyber Warfare Command are carrying out an investigation to find out how the site was hacked, and whether there has been any leakage of classified information.
"Authorities are analyzing the type of the malignant code to find out who planted it in the program and why," another official said, adding the hacking could have been carried out by North Koreans.
The Air Force said that there have been no reports about damage incurred from the hacking so far, adding that a leakage of military information is impossible because the Air Force's website is separate from internal networks.
Recently, there has been a rise in hacking attempts targeting the military and military-related organizations, which led critics to call the military's cyber capabilities into questions.
In April, Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction, a South Korean builder of naval warships, including the nation's largest military transport ship, the Dokdo, was hacked.
Korean Air, which produces unmanned aerial vehicles, has also reportedly suffered a hacking attack.
On May 12, the military launched an investigation after it received a report that unknown emails were sent to local defense companies and arms-trading agencies. Investigators said that the sender impersonated an official from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
legislative affairs after he was elected as the parliamentary speaker in May 2014 and quit the party in line with the National Assembly regulation.
He has not decided whether to return to the party.
"My primary concerns are whether the Saenuri Party officials are capable of reforming the party," he said, referring to prolonged factional struggle within the party after its defeat in the April 13 general election. "I will wait and see what I can do."
Some political sources speculated that he may join hands with Sohn Hak-gyu, a former advisor to the MPK, and set up a new party.
"I'm open to establishing a new party although I have not made up my mind yet," he said.
