Suspicions are growing that North Korea is responsible for a massive cyber-attack which occurred on the weekend in South Korea and on some US government web sites.
Intelligence experts believe it could have been an initial foray by the North Koreans to disable South Korean and US information systems.
It is also believed the Internet attacks were not isolated, but tied a North Korean military strategy, which includes its recent missile and nuclear weapons tests.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has revealed the computer virus infected 18,000 personal computers and at least 11 South Korean government sites.
US sites hit by the virus included the Treasury Department, Federal Trade Commission, and Secret Service.
Analysts have said the attacks on South Korean websites may have been made in place of feared attacks along the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas.
They have suggested recent missile tests have underlined North Korean efforts to perfect their missile accuracy but do not signify an imminent military attack.
The Internet attacks came as North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il attended a memorial service marking the 15th anniversary of the death of his father, Kim Il-Sung.
He was shown briefly on North Korean state TV walking with a slight limp.
