Nuclear Security
South
Korean Nuclear Power Plant Operator Under Renewed Cyberattacks
© East
News/ Imago Sport and News
13:53 28.12.2014
Hackers
continue to launch cyberattacks against the operator of nuclear power plants in
South Korea. The power stations are reportedly unharmed.
© FLICKR/ IAEA IMAGEBANK/KOREA WOLSONG NPP
MOSCOW,
December 28 (Sputnik) – Hackers continue to target Korea Hydro &
Nuclear Power Co Ltd (KHNP), the operator of nuclear power plants
in South Korea, Reuters reports, citing the company’s CEO.
"Cyberattacks on KHNP's
(headquarters) operations and administration are still continuing now,"
Cho Seok, KHNP’s president and CEO, said on Sunday, as quoted
by the news agency.
The KHNP said it stepped
up security following cyberattacks and threats from hackers,
but the company did not provide further details. "We cannot let
cyberattacks stop nuclear power operation," said Cho Seok during a
news briefing, as quoted by the news agency.
The nuclear
power plants operated by the company are reportedly secure and have not
been affected by the attacks, according to Reuters. "We will
continue operating nuclear plants safely against any attempted foul play,
including cyberattacks," he pledged.
Last week, hackers leaked documents,
including operating manuals for nuclear power plants and the personal data
of 10,000 KHNP employees. The KHNP stated that the leaked materials
contain only general information and are not a threat to the security
of the reactors.
Following the data breach, Chung
Yang-ho, South Korea’s deputy energy minister pledged that power stations were
well-protected. "It’s our judgment that the control system is designed
in such a way – there is no risk whatsoever," the official said,
as quoted by the Guardian.
On Thursday, South Korea launched an
investigation into a cyberattack on Wolseong, another nuclear power
plant operated by KHNP. Investigators have not ruled out Pyongyang’s
involvement in the attack.
On Sunday, North Korea reiterated it was
not involved in the attack on KHNP, referring to such claims as
"a trumped-up plot against the communist country," according
to Yonhap.
"South Korea is blindly trying
to link the recent hacking of its nuclear power stations
to us," said Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of DPRK’s
ruling Workers' Party of Korea. "It is a totally groundless fabrication,"
the media outlet said, as quoted by Yonhap.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power operates
23 nuclear power plants, which provide 30 percent of the energy consumed
by South Korea.
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