South Korea's military probes suspected DPRK hacking on defense suppliers

South Korea's military has opened an investigation into alleged Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) hacking attempts on local defense suppliers, Yonhap quoted an official source on Friday.

"We have learned that unknown emails disguised as those from the defense procurement agency were sent to local defense suppliers and arms trading agencies," the source said.

"We are leading the investigation with the assumption that they could be North Korea's hacking attempts on defense firms."

The emails were asking the companies to join a survey on government subsidies to be offered to help defense manufacturers take part in a defense exhibition, according to the official.

He said the emails were carrying malicious codes as file attachments, which, when downloaded, allow hacking attacks and results in data leaks.

Last month, South Korea's key builder of naval warships Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. came under a hacking attack supposedly launched by DPRK and had their online data leaked before the military opened a probe.

Source: XINHUA