North Korea accused of nuclear power operator cyberattack

North Korea is behind a series of attacks launched at South Korea's nuclear power operator attempting to cause a plant reactor malfunction, South Korean investigators say. 

The accusation holds that Pyongyang hacked into the computer network of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., a state-owned nuclear power company, exposing internal data on the facility. Investigators say the attack took place in December. 

Although it is believed that no critical information was compromised, the allegation points to North Korea's growing cyber aggression. 

"We condemn North Korea's persistent cyber terror targeting of our country and the international community,” the South Korean Ministry of Unification said in a statement Tuesday. 

News of the alleged attacks could raise tensions in the region, as the United States and South Korea continue annual military drills that are opposed by Pyongyang. In apparent retaliation for the drills, North Korea has been test firing missiles into the sea.  

Internet addresses connected to the attack were traced to North Korea, and a virus used to try to steal information from company employees had been previously attributed to the North. 

Pyongyang has denied involvement in the Korea Hydro attacks, calling them a ploy to raise tensions on the peninsula.