North Korean Cyber Capabilities: In Brief

Chanlett-Avery, Emma ; Rosen, Liana W. ; Rollins, John W. ; Theohary, Catherine A.

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Computer crimes;    Computer security measures;    Foreign policy;    Defense policy;    North Korea;   

RP-ID  :  R44912
RP-ID  :  R44912_2017Aug03

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

This report discusses how as North Korea has accelerated its missile and nuclear programs in spite of international sanctions, Congress and the Trump Administration have elevated North Korea to a top U.S. foreign policy priority. Legislation such as the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-122) and international sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council have focused on North Korea's WMD and ballistic missile programs and human rights abuses. North Korea's cyberattacks have the potential not only to disrupt international commerce, but to direct resources to its clandestine weapons and delivery system programs, potentially enhancing its ability to evade international sanctions. This report will provide a brief summary of what unclassified open-source reporting has revealed about the secretive program, introduce four case studies in which North Korean operators are suspected of having perpetrated malicious operations, and provide an overview of the international finance messaging service that these hackers may be exploiting.