South Korean intelligence officials told lawmakers that North Korea conducted cyberattacks against Pfizer in an attempt to steal important COVID-19 vaccine information.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service briefed the National Assembly’s intelligence committee during a private session on Tuesday. After the meeting, committee member Ha Tae-keung told reporters that in addition to the cyberattacks targeting the vaccine information, South Korea has seen a 32% overall increase in attacks from the hermit nation.
“The cyberattacks included an attempt to steal COVID-19 vaccine and treatment technology, to which Pfizer was subject,” Ha said, according to the Washington Post.
The extent of the alleged attacks, if they were successful, and what information was specifically targeted has not been made publicly available. The Washington Examiner reached out to Pfizer for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
North Korea reportedly spent months attempting to infiltrate at least a half-dozen pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson and Novavax, which both worked on a COVID-19 vaccine.
The U.S. State Department said at the time that it is “vital for governments, network defenders, and the public to stay vigilant and to work together to mitigate the cyber threat posed by North Korea.”
North Korean hackers are also believed to be responsible for the 2016 theft of $81 million from the Central Bank of Bangladesh and a 2014 leak of internal emails from Sony Pictures.
