From:
To:
Date: Monday, February 14, 5.55 P.M.
Subject: DPRK
Dear Foreign Secretary,
The P.M. asked for further information on last month’s attacks. I therefore attach a report originated by STRATFOR which apparently confirms what we suspected to be true. I note that our American friends have reached the same conclusion, and that they share our frustration at the impunity with which the DPRK is acting in this regard. They concur with us that the time has come to let them know that there is a red line beyond which they must not cross, and that consequences will flow if they do. I know that the Ambassador has reported these sentiments to you.
If there is any follow-up once the P.M. has considered this intelligence please do, as ever, let me know.
Sincerely,
M.
>>> BEGINS
* * * EYES ONLY * * *
PUBLICATION: analysis/background
ATTRIBUTION: STRATFOR
SOURCE DESCRIPTION: North Korean diplomat
SOURCE Reliability: B
ITEM CREDIBILITY: 2
DISTRIBUTION: Alpha
SOURCE HANDLER: Reva
DPRK sources suggest last month’s massive cyber-attack on banks and media companies throughout SK and the West was planned and executed in Pyongyang. SK Banks including Shinhan, NongHyup and Jeju, together with TV broadcasters KBS, MBC and YTN were all taken offline as code affected circa 48k PCs on their networks. Evidence indicates the attack originated with DPRK’s General Reconnaissance Bureau / Military Intelligence Division. The attack spread “wiper” malware––named Jokra––that deleted the master boot records from PCs and attempted to delete volumes from Unix/Linux servers. This resembles previous DPRK hacking patterns. S.K. Ministry of Science, Information, Computer Technology and Future Planning (MSICTFP) confirms validity of evidence and hypothesis.
ENDS <<<
From:
To:
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 4.25 P.M.
Subject: DPRK
My dear M.,
The P.M. thanks you for your prompt response to his query. He has discussed the issue at high level (including, I believe, with POTUS) and, given the excellent assets that you have secured within the DPRK, approval has been given for you to investigate whether there is something that we might do to give them a bloody nose. This latest attack follows the endless posturing with their missiles and the attacks on S.K. assets, and, as I indicated in my previous email, it has long since reached the point where something must be done. US assistance is available if you deem it necessary but, knowing you as I do, I suspect that you will want to make a demonstration of our effectiveness when working alone. (I can also report the P.M.’s support for that sentiment).
I wonder whether this might be something for our mutual friend? This is, of course, eyes only.
My regards to you and your wife,
Morgan
From:
To:
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 4.50 P.M.
Subject: FWD: DPRK
Dear Control,
I forward the email that I received from the Foreign Secretary yesterday. We have a cell of three indigenous agents active within the DPRK and, while we have no reason to believe that the Politburo is aware of their existence, they are not equipped with either the training or the materiél to mount the kind of operation (which you might charitably describe as audacious) that is currently on the table. Group Fifteen, on the other hand, does not have those problems. You have been tasked with considering whether it is practical to work with our assets in the DPRK in this regard, possibly involving an agent from the Group. How practical would it be for you to insert one?
Regards, etc,
M.
From:
To:
Date: Wednesday, February 16, 3.42 P.M.
Subject: DPRK
Dear M.,
I have given consideration to your request. It can be done, and I attach a way in which it might be carried out. You are right to describe it as audacious; as you
Similar Books
