North Korea prepares cyber provocations for 2024 U.S. presidential elections

The intelligence agency in Seoul says that next year, North Korea will initiate military and cyber provocations as Kim Jong Un's regime seeks to enhance its authority during election campaigns in the U.S. and South Korea.

It is claimed that in recent months, North Korea has appointed participants in previous provocations to key positions, indicating that Pyongyang will attempt to draw attention to its military capability. This comes as voters in South Korea choose members of the new parliament, and presidential elections take place in the U.S.

"Considering North Korea’s past behavior and the level of its recent threats against South Korea, we are making every effort to establish early warnings and preparedness with related ministries as Pyongyang’s provocations are expected early in the year," said a statement from South Korea's national intelligence service.

North Korea's military activities

North Korea regularly asserts its "indisputable status as a nuclear state" and conducts regular launches of ballistic missiles towards the East and Yellow Seas.

On December 18, it was reported that North Korea allegedly launched a short-range ballistic missile towards the East Sea. A few hours later, Pyongyang conducted its second missile test. In response, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida convened a meeting of the National Security Council.

In the context of a series of missile tests, the U.S. and South Korea are working on a comprehensive nuclear defense strategy, aiming to create an integrated deterrence system against North Korea's nuclear weapons by mid-next year. Specifically, they aim to complete the development of comprehensive instructions on how to collectively restrain and respond to the nuclear threat from North Korea by 2024.

On December 23, it was reported that South Korea conducted independent exercises simulating a nuclear attack by North Korea as part of efforts to refine responses to military threats from the North.

In August, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on the country's military leadership to better prepare for war.