In hopes of combating ongoing distributed-denial-of-service
(DDoS) attacks, South Korea recently erected digital “bunkers” throughout
their networks, according to a post on ZDNet’s Australian site.
Created to help smaller businesses too poor to defend
themselves, the “bunkers” are providing temporary peace of mind and are expected
to be used for about a week. With the “bunkers” intact, attackers continue to target the victim’s original
IP address, while the company shifts their operations to a new IP
address, alleviating stress.
The Asian republic has been periodically incapacitated since the cyber
attacks began striking their networks last year. Korea’s Computer
Emergency Response Team refused to comment on the source of the attacks, some
which also hit US networks. However, speculation has focused on the secretive government of North Korea. The nation had a “technology reconnaissance team” devoted to disturbing
US and South Korean networks, according to a Agence France-Presse report last
year. Tensions between the two Koreas have also ratcheted up in recent months. A new government in South Korea abandoned the “sunshine” policy of engagement pursued by recent South Korean administrations. At the same time,the North has responded with bellicose threats about what it perceives as encroachment on its territory and acts of violence. Those include the suspected sinking of a South Korean Navy vessel in March that killed 100 sailorsand, on Monday, shelling of a remote South Korean island that has killed two South Korean marines and injured more than a dozen.
Despite its political, economic and cultural isolation from the rest of the world, North Korea is believed to have pursued cyber warfare capabilities aggressively and is now ranked among the most capable nations globally in that arena.
