North Korea broke into South Korean chip equipment firms, Seoul’s spy agency says

South Korean army soldiers pass by a military guard post at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, on July 19, 2023. The NIS said the South Korean firms had been a key target of North Korean hackers since late last year, and called for tougher security. — AP

SEOUL: North Korea's hacking groups have broken into at least two South Korean manufacturers of chipmaking equipment, as the country looks to evade sanctions and turn out its own semiconductors for weapons programmes, South Korea's spy agency said on March 4.

The news comes after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned North Korea could stage provocations, such as cyber attacks or spreading fake news, to interfere in April's parliamentary elections.