Anonymous hacks North Korean websites for a second time

Members of the Anonymous hacktivist collective claim to have hacked several prominent North Korean websites for a second time in less than two weeks as part of the group’s Operation Free Korea.

Just over a week ago, the group claimed to have launched its first strikes days after it threatened North Korea with cyber war if the country’s leader Kim Jong-un did not resign and install democracy.

Anonymous is also demanding that North Korea abandon its nuclear ambitions and give universal and uncensored internet access to its citizens.

North Korea’s government-run @Uriminzok Twitter account has remained in the hacktivist group’s control since 4 April, and a fresh series of messages claim that four North Korean websites, including news site Uriminzokkiri.com, have been hacked or taken offline, according to US reports.

The main Uriminzokkiri website is reportedly offline, while manipulated images of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have been placed on three hacked English language news sites.

North Korea’s Flickr account was hacked into earlier this month and it has since been deleted, but reports said it is unclear whether the country will be able to get its Twitter account back.

Anonymous claimed in a Pastebin statement that it has members inside North Korea helping with the attack.

The Anonymous attacks come amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula between North Korea and South Korea and its US ally after the North’s recent nuclear test, but Anonymous said it is fighting for freedom and does not support the US.

Last weekend, Anonymous launched cyber attacks on Israeli websites as part of a threatened pro-Palestinian campaign, but officials said the damage was minimal.