A notorious Chinese hacking group has reportedly gone on a cyber offensive against South Korea and targeted most of the country’s Government and financial sites. The CyberDragon hacking group has a mixture of Chinese and Russian ties and has been critically targeting countries that have been condemning Russia for the ongoing war in Ukraine. South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol had recently confirmed his country's participation in a Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland this weekend to rally support for the country ending its war with Russia. Last year, Seoul had increased its Ukraine Aid package to $394 Million For 2024.

Government, Financial Sites Attacked by CyberDragon Hacking Group

Irked by its support being garnered against Russia, CyberDragon launched an extensive cyberattack on key South Korean sites and criticized the country for its alleged promotion of Russophobia. In its post on darkweb, CyberDragon said, “We are joining the “South Korean Company”. This is a country that has long been promoting Russophobia by supporting the Kyiv regime.” The list of websites reportedly targetted by CyberDragon include: Shinhan Financial Group: It was founded in September 2001 and is one of South Korea's big five financial groups. Its subsidiaries provide a full range of financial services, including banking, securities, life insurance, and investment banking. State Korean Import-Export Bank KEXIM:  The Export-Import Bank of Korea, also commonly known as the Korea Eximbank (KEXIM), is the official export credit agency of South Korea. The bank was first established in 1976. Its primary purpose is to support South Korea's export-led economy by providing loans, financing mega projects and thereby facilitating economic cooperation with other countries. [caption id="attachment_77014" align="alignnone" width="1600"] Home Page of Korea Eximbank[/caption] Korea Customs Service: The Korea Customs Service was established in 1970 and is one of tax organizations in South Korea and is run under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The headquarters is in Seo District, Daejeon. Korean National Police: The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), also known as the Korean National Police (KNP), is one of the national police organizations in South Korea. It is run under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and is headquartered in Seodaemun, Seoul. National Tax Service: It is the tax organization in South Korea and is run under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Its headquarters is in Sejong City. Like many of the previous attacks carried out by the Cyberdragon hacking group, it is unclear if sensitive data of the organisations listed above was compromised. Prima Facie, it looks like the group carried out a DDoS attack meant to disrupt the platform’s services. None of the organizations have publicly responded to the alleged breach. Most of the organizations too seem to have restored the functioning of its websites, hours after the group claimed to have carried out a cyberattack.

Previous Operations by CyberDragon Hacking Group

The CyberDragon group gained popularity after it took down the website and app for almost 24 hours after a massive data breach in March 2024. CyberDragon had then posted evidence of the attack on its TOR platform but LinkedIn didn’t comment on the attack. The peculiar hacking actor has both Chinese and Russian ties. It carries out cyberattacks with many pro-Russian hackers and most of its statements are posted in Russian. Both China and Russia are global allies and the targets of CyberDragon indicate their ideological and political affiliations. This scenario is, however, not new in the cybercrime world. Organizations around the world must deal with the fallout of cyberattacks by groups like CyberDragon. Their attacks indicate why it is crucial to remain vigilant and implement stringent security measures against cyberattacks.

Switzerland has seen a notable increase in cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns as it prepares to host a crucial summit aimed at creating a pathway for peace in Ukraine. On Monday, the government reported these developments in a press conference, highlighting the challenges of convening a high-stakes international dialogue amidst rising digital threats. The summit, Summit on Peace in Ukraine is scheduled at a resort near Lucerne from June 15-16, and will gather representatives from 90 states and organizations. About half of the participants come from South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Notably, absent from the attendee list is Russia which was not invited due to its lack of interest in participating. However, the Swiss government emphasized that the summit’s goal is to "jointly define a roadmap" to eventually include both Russia and Ukraine in a future peace process. Swiss President Viola Amherd addressed the media, acknowledging the uptick in cyberattacks and disinformation efforts leading up to the event. These cyberattacks have targeted various facets of the summit, including personal attacks on President Amherd herself, particularly in Russian media outlets publicized within Switzerland. "We haven't summoned the ambassador," Amherd stated in response to these attacks. "That's how I wanted it because the disinformation campaign is so extreme that one can see that little of it reflects reality."

Switzerland Disruption Efforts and Cybersecurity

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis also spoke at the press conference, noting a clear "interest" in disrupting the talks. However, he refrained from directly accusing any particular entity, including Russia, when questioned about the source of the cyberattacks. This restraint highlights the delicate diplomatic balancing act Switzerland is attempting as host. Switzerland agreed to host the summit at the behest of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and has been actively seeking support from countries with more neutral or favorable relations with Moscow compared to leading Western powers. This strategic outreach aims to broaden the coalition backing the peace efforts and mitigate the polarized dynamics that have characterized the conflict thus far.

Agenda and Key Issues

The summit will address several critical areas of international concern, including nuclear and food security, freedom of navigation, and humanitarian issues such as prisoner of war exchanges. These topics are integral to the broader context of the Ukraine conflict and resonate with the international community's strategic and humanitarian interests. Turkey and India are confirmed participants, though their representation level remains unspecified. There is still uncertainty regarding the participation of Brazil and South Africa. Switzerland noted that roughly half of the participating countries would be represented by heads of state or government, highlighting the summit's high profile and potential impact. The summit aims to conclude with a final declaration, which ideally would receive unanimous backing. This declaration is expected to outline the next steps in the peace process. When asked about potential successors to Switzerland in leading the next phase, Foreign Minister Cassis indicated ongoing efforts to engage regions beyond the Western sphere, particularly the Global South and Arabian countries. Such inclusion could foster a more comprehensive and globally supported peace initiative.

To Wrap Up

The summit represents a significant diplomatic effort to address the Ukraine conflict. However, the surge in cyberattacks on Switzerland and disinformation campaigns, highlights the complexities of such high-stakes international dialogue. In March 2024, Switzerland’s district court in the German-speaking district of March, home to around 45,000 residents, fell victim to a cyberattack. While details are scarce, the court’s website suggests it could potentially be a ransomware attack. As Switzerland navigates these challenges, the outcomes of this summit could set important precedents for future peace efforts and international cooperation.