U.S. Is Waging A Cyberwar Against North Korea

An image distributed by the North Korean government showing the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, visiting a missile test center in North Pyongan Province. Analysts say the pair of engines he is standing in front of could power an intercontinental ballistic missile. Credit Korean Central News Agency, via Reuters

New York Times: Trump Inherits a Secret Cyberwar Against North Korean Missiles

WASHINGTON — Three years ago, President Barack Obama ordered Pentagon officials to step up their cyber and electronic strikes against North Korea’s missile program in hopes of sabotaging test launches in their opening seconds.

Soon a large number of the North’s military rockets began to explode, veer off course, disintegrate in midair and plunge into the sea. Advocates of such efforts say they believe that targeted attacks have given American antimissile defenses a new edge and delayed by several years the day when North Korea will be able to threaten American cities with nuclear weapons launched atop intercontinental ballistic missiles.

But other experts have grown increasingly skeptical of the new approach, arguing that manufacturing errors, disgruntled insiders and sheer incompetence can also send missiles awry. Over the past eight months, they note, the North has managed to successfully launch three medium-range rockets. And Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, now claims his country is in “the final stage in preparations” for the inaugural test of his intercontinental missiles — perhaps a bluff, perhaps not.

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WNU editor: More intelligence leaks to the New York Times .... and against a foe that is determined to develop nuclear armed missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. This is (to put it bluntly) not good.

More News On The U.S. Waging A Cyberwar Against North Korea

Obama launched cyberwar to sabotage NKorea missile program: report -- AFP
US Trump administration inherits Obama cyberwar against North Korea -- DW
US waging secret cyberwar against North Korean missile program -- New York Post
Obama waged a 'secret cyber war to try and sabotage North Korea's missile tests' -- Daily MailPentagon Has Been Waging Secret Cyberwar Against North Korea Missiles for Years -- Slate
US Waging Secret Cyber, Electronic War on North Korea’s Missile Program -- Sputnik
Obama told Trump that North Korea was most urgent problem he'd face: report -- The Hill
Obama warned Trump that North Korea would be his biggest problem -- The Quartz