N. Korea hacks S. Korean semiconductor equipment firms: spy agency

National Intelligence Service (NIS) headquarters / Courtesy of NIS

North Korea has conducted cyber attacks against South Korean semiconductor equipment companies since last year, Seoul's spy agency said Monday, advising the local chips industry to take caution.

According to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), a North Korean cyber group attacked two South Korean semiconductor equipment companies in December 2023 and February, respectively, aiming to obtain blueprints of their products and photos of facilities.

The NIS did not disclose the details of the hacking group and the attacked companies.

The North Korean hacker targeted companies whose servers were connected to the Internet, making them prone to cyberattacks, using the "living off the land" (LotL) method, according to the NIS.

LotL is an advanced cyberattack technique where hackers use legitimate tools within the victim's system, making it harder for victims to detect malware.

The NIS said North Korea seems to have been experiencing difficulty in chip procurement due to economic sanctions and preparing to independently manufacture semiconductors for the development of satellites and missiles.

The NIS said it has advised the chips industry to bolster their cyber security measures. (Yonhap)