More on the NKorean War Plan Hack

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Did you see the news headlines that North Korean hackers may have stolen U.S. war plans to defend South Korea? 

The South Korean military is currently investigating the cyber attack. The plans are said to include an outline of Seoul’s and Washington's strategy in the event of war on the Korean Peninsula. 

This document included details of military operations involving South Korean and U.S. troops should North Korea conduct a pre-emptive strike or attempt to invade South Korea. This 11 page document was used to brief military and government leaders on the joint U.S. and South Korean military plans. 

One source stated that the document included details about the 700,000 US troops that would be used in the event of a full-scale war. It is also thought to include a list of targets in North Korea.  

The highly sensitive documents appear to have been stolen last month. An unsecure and possibly compromised USB thumb drive was used to copy the document and it is believed that was the means of cyber compromise. 

Sources close to the event say that the systems security software should have issued a warning message if an external memory device is inserted into a military computer, but hackers may have been able to steal the military secrets because a military officer neglected these warning messages and broke regulations.

It was reported that the military officer working at the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command was disciplined for mishandling the highly-classified military data. People remain the weakest link in cyber security.

FACT:    The plan title was named OPLAN 5029

FACT:    The U.S. has 28,500 troops based in South Korea.

-- Kevin Coleman

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