NIS: "North Korea Conducted Cyber Attacks Related to COVID-19 Vaccines... No Unusual Activity in Kim Jong-un Family"

Reported to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee... Ri Sol-ju and others presumed inactive due to quarantine
Kim Yo-jong's status changed but position and role remain the same
North Korea faces food shortage in March-April this year
Maximum death penalty for distributing South Korean videos in North Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee that there were attempts from outside, including North Korea, to steal the core technologies of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. It was also reported that there are no abnormal signs regarding the health and status of Kim Jong-un, the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.

On the 16th, Kim Byung-gi, the Democratic Party's secretary of the Intelligence Committee, and Ha Tae-kyung, the People Power Party's secretary, conveyed this information through a briefing after receiving a report on North Korea-related trends from the National Intelligence Service during the full meeting of the Intelligence Committee.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

These ruling and opposition party secretaries stated, "There are 1.58 million cyberattack attempts daily, which is a 32% increase in the daily average compared to the previous year," adding, "Most of these were preemptively blocked in cooperation with related agencies." They also disclosed that "there were cyberattacks attempting to steal the core technologies of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments."

There was also a report that there are no abnormalities around General Secretary Kim’s family. They said, "(Kim’s wife) Ri Sol-ju has not appeared in official events for a year, but there are no unusual developments, and she is playing well with the children," adding, "It is presumed that she is not appearing in public due to COVID-19 quarantine issues." Regarding Kim Jong-un himself, they reported, "He continues his governance activities by reducing field visits and providing political direction through party meetings," and "He showed no abnormal signs, delivering speeches for four consecutive days at the February 8 Party Congress."

Regarding Kim Jong-un’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, deputy department director, the ruling and opposition party intelligence committee secretaries said, "Although she was excluded from the candidate members of the Political Bureau and her status changed from first deputy department director to deputy department director, it is judged that her actual status and role have not changed at all."

Concerning North Korea’s economic situation, they introduced, "North Korea-China trade decreased by 75% compared to the previous year last year, and in the fourth quarter of last year, it decreased by 99% compared to the previous year," and "North Korea’s grain production is expected to be 4.4 million tons, which is about 1 million tons short of this year’s demand of 5.5 million tons." The National Intelligence Service also reported that due to this, the lean season is expected to come to North Korea in March to April this year, but with support from China, it is judged that the situation is not seriously concerning.

Additionally, there was a report that North Korea has strengthened punishments for watching South Korean videos and other content. The ruling and opposition party intelligence committee secretaries said, "North Korea enacted the Anti-Reactionary Thought and Culture Rejection Law last year, imposing the death penalty for inflow and distribution of South Korean videos, and increased the imprisonment term for viewing from the previous 5 years to 15 years."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.