CLASH OF TITANS: North Korea: guilty or not?

venerdì 2 gennaio 2015

North Korea: guilty or not?

"Our country has no connection with these hackers," said the political adviser of North Korea to the UN, Kim Song, commenting on the statements of Obama’s administration that the cyberattack that hit Sony last December was the work of the Secret Services of Pyongyang. In fact, the FBI investigation had found, at first, that the Korean government was responsible for the cyber-attack to Sony Pictures of Los Angeles. A cyber-attack is an "Unacceptable behavior for a State. No dictator can impose censorship in the US”, American President declared indignant. The hackers hit the major to prevent the release of the film "The Interview" with James Franco, which makes a fool of Pyongyang’s leader, Kim Jong-un. President Obama then said: ”We will respond in a proportionate manner to the cyber-attack against Sony”, conducted according to the FBI by North Korea, ”in a proportionate manner and within the time that we decide, also considering to put the regime of Pyongyang in the list of countries that support international terrorism”. The reaction of North Korea was vehement and laconic, Kim Jong-un immediately distanced himself from the attack, although described the decision of Sony to withdraw the film as "very wise and forward-looking”.

In the following days, there was a massive cyber-attack against the Korean internet network that led to the blackout of the entire country for 9 hours (maybe the American reaction?).

The affair still has reserved a new twist just few days ago, in fact, not only the film was shown in cinemas all over the world, but many cyber-security agencies that are investigating the case claim that the real responsible of the attack could be a former employee of Sony laid off four months ago, and not North Korea. This hypothesis has been subjected to the FBI that is continuing to carry out the investigation, although the early evidences do not seem to be strong, in fact, the American agency said: “These statements are based on inner intelligence, other national agencies and foreign partners of the private sector. There is no credible information to suggest that other individuals are responsible”. Therefore, we have to wait for the end of the investigation, and figure out if we are faced with a cyber-clash of Titans or to an individual who wants to take revenge with his former employer for being fired.

References:
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/27/tech/north-korea-expert-doubts-about-hack/http://variety.com/2014/biz/news/security-experts-doubt-north-korea-role-in-sony-hack-attack-1201389525/
http://www.corriere.it/opinioni/14_dicembre_31/attacco-hacker-sony-l-imbarazzo-dell-fbi-f45b551e-90c5-11e4-a341-1b24c965fa88.shtml
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/30/north-korea-hackers-sony-pictures-cyber-attack

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A brief introduction

The political-diplomatic clashes

Are International politics always headed for growing State power in a background of “all against all” war? We obviously hope that they are not. In fact in theory International politics and diplomacy can be done for peaceful purposes or in order to improve a State condition not at the expenses of another. Nevertheless alliances or a particular geopolitical strategy also are implemented in order to isolate or to take position against a State or a group of States. An historical example about that are the attempts of Germany to isolate France through a system of alliances at the end of XIX century. In addition Germany drew up an alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy in 1882. In 1907 the answer to the will of power of Germany by France, UK and Russia was the creation of the Triple Entente that took position against the Triple Alliance.

The economic clashes

As mentioned, the clash between states can also be played on the level of economic relations. One of the leading interpreters of this policy is certainly Germany that has often led the fight on the level of economic relations: the historical periods in which it has been most evident were the '80s with the creation of the European Monetary System (E.M.S.) and in recent years with the rise of the single currency, the Euro. The E.M.S. was a monetary mechanism that forced states parties to align their currency exchange rates. It favored the German power because its currency was strong and penalized its exports in favor of states, such as Italy, which had a weak currency, and if needed, they could also devalue to encourage exports. This situation has generated strong international tensions between state parties and led to a rapid dismantling.

The cultural clashes

In a background of power politics, a state who wants to use its cultural authority has the goal to expand its sphere of influence to impose its hegemony to another civilization, not in a military but cultural way. The cultural clashes are therefore conflicts between states with different cultures and different civilizations.
The Cold War was a perfect example of this policy: the two blocks in opposition represented two very different civilizations, who preached the supremacy over the other. The creation of the Warsaw Pact and the NATO arose from the need to tie closely the states who were more similar to their own idea of civilization.