The “cyber cops” at South Korea’s National Police Cyber Terror Response Center announced today that North Korea was responsible for an early March cyber attack on South Korean websites (related posting here). The latest attack reportedly used the same techniques and IP addresses as a 7 July 2009 attack also blamed on the North. The latest attack reportedly harnessed 746 servers in 70 countries in a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack on 40 South Korean websites.
With two attacks, both somewhat successful, and no repercussions, look for the North to continue this method of provocation, especially if Kim Jong-eun really is in charge of the unit conducting the attacks. Given the current (lack of) food situation in the North, an April or May provocation to help unite North Korea’s domestic populace during the depths of the food crisis is increasingly likely (ala last year’s attack on the Cheonan and shelling of Yeonpyeong Island / 연평도).