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Hacker posts S. Korean nuclear power plant blueprints

By Ed Adamczyk
South Korea's Shin Kori nuclear power plants (CC/ wikimedia.org/ 102orion)
South Korea's Shin Kori nuclear power plants (CC/ wikimedia.org/ 102orion)

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Computers of South Korea's nuclear plant operator were hacked, and the company said Monday it will conduct cyberattack drills.

Internal data, including blueprints of reactors and estimates of radiation exposure, were breached. Designs of plant equipment and internal manuals of the Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Corp., South Korea's only sole nuclear operator, were put online late last week by an unidentified hacker, whose account referred to the "president of the anti-nuclear reactor group," warning that people should "stay away" from the reactors unless they were closed by Christmas.

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The online posting was the latest and most serious breach of confidential information about the power plants since the hacks began on Dec. 15.

The company's statement Monday said an investigation is underway and that large-scale cyberattack drills would be conducted Monday and Tuesday at four of its 23 nuclear power plant complexes. It did not mention North Korea's recent alleged involvement in cybersecurity breaches.

In the past, South Korea has suffered data breaches in its banking, government and broadcasting sectors, each time blaming Pyongyang.

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