Conflicts

Pro-Russian hacking groups have stepped up attacks on South Korea as North Korean troops are deployed in Russia, the South Korean presidential office said.

Authorities in Seoul said they had called an emergency meeting due to recent attacks targeting some government and private websites. No major damage was reported, other than temporary outages, South Korea's presidential office said.

"Cyberattacks by pro-Russian hacktivist groups against our country have occurred sporadically in the past," South Korea's presidential office said in a statement.

"But they have become more frequent following the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia and North Korea's involvement in the war in Ukraine."

Officials didn't reveal the names of the hacking groups, but said the South Korean government would strengthen its capabilities to respond to such attacks.

(MH with AmBar/Source: Agency/Photo: DPA/newscom/Keizo Mori)