South Korea Has New Accusation Against North Korea
- par Xavier Trudeau
- dans Financer
- — Fév 17, 2021
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is seen here speaking to the Workers' Party.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's wife made her first public appearance in over a year, state media reported Wednesday, after speculation her absence could be coronavirus-related, or because of a potential pregnancy.
Since Ri does not hold any formal government positions, she was not expected to attend any events with Kim over the previous year.
The NIS added that she appeared to be spending time with her children and that "no unusual signs have been detected".
North Korean hackers tried to break into the computer systems of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer in a search for information on a coronavirus vaccine and treatment technology, South Korea's spy agency said Tuesday, according to reports.
The South Korean MP informed that Seoul's National Intelligence Service had briefed the country's lawmakers on North Korea's coronavirus vaccine hacking attempt. Many outside experts are highly skeptical about North Korea's claims to have had no coronavirus cases but say the country likely has avoided a widespread outbreak thanks to more than a year of stringent lockdowns.
The statement by South Korean officials is the latest accusation against North Korean hackers for attempting to steal vaccine technology, highlighting Pyongyang's alleged ongoing campaign to obtain sensitive information through nefarious means and its growing cyber capabilities.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has claimed the country hasn't had cases of COVID-19, though CBS News writes that "outside experts doubt those assertions", and the Post notes that North Korea is still reportedly set to receive nearly two million AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine doses.
"As the General Secretary came to the auditorium of the theatre together with his wife Ri Sol Ju amid the welcome music, all the participants burst into thunderous cheers of 'Hurrah!'" the official KCNA news agency reported.
The current South Korean government of President Moon Jae-in espouses rapprochement with North Korea and a negotiated settlement of the global standoff over North Korea's nuclear program. Dennis Rodman, the offbeat basketball great who visited Kim in North Korea, said in 2013 he held the leader's baby girl in his arms, a daughter named Ju Ae.
