Yoon warns Pyongyang may use ‘fake news, cyberattacks’ to influence South Korea election

The provocations could include, according to the president, not only military moves, but also cyberattacks and fake news, Yoon said.

“For the past 70 years, the North Korean regime has worked tirelessly to bring down our liberal democratic system, and in years with important political events, it has constantly carried out social disturbances, psychological warfare and provocations,” he said. “And this year, border area provocations, drone infiltration, fake news, cyberattacks and other provocations are expected to influence the elections.”

The North conducted a series of cruise missile tests last Wednesday, Sunday and Tuesday, seemingly posing a threat directed at South Korea.

South Korean intelligence authorities are warning about the growing risks of cyberattacks by the North, such as hacking attempts on the election authority, fake news and propaganda using deepfake technologies.

“North Korea’s cyberattacks have the potential to shut down government functions and disrupt the daily lives of the people,” Yoon said.

“Also, society could experience significant chaos through fake news and false propaganda. We have to discuss measures to prevent cyberattacks on the country’s key infrastructure and block fake news and propaganda.”

Traditionally, the North has staged various types of provocations before major elections in South Korea, including the 2010 sinking of the ROKS Cheonan, which took place three months before the local polls.

Due to this historical pattern, South Korea has braced for the so-called “North Wind”, a term widely used until the late 1990s referring to the strategy where conservatives in the South leverage provocations from the North to influence the sense of security among the South Korean people, aiming to