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Rival parties agree to hold meeting over hacking allegations

All News 18:04 July 29, 2015

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Rival parties agreed Wednesday to hold a meeting next week to look into allegations that the country's top intelligence agency illegally monitored ordinary citizens.

The meeting between two legislators -- each from the ruling the Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy -- and four civilian experts will take place at the National Intelligence Service (NIS) headquarters in southern Seoul on Aug. 6.

The meeting is aimed at revealing whether the NIS carried out illegal surveillance of ordinary citizens after purchasing hacking software programs from an Italian firm in 2012.

The NIS has said it bought the software but argued that it used the programs to strengthen cyber warfare capabilities against North Korea.

The software programs use Remote Control System (RCS) technology, which allows hackers to manipulate and track smartphones and computers by installing spyware.

The Saenuri Party, meanwhile, raised concern that Pyongyang could launch a counter attack in cyber warfare as the country's security system has had so much exposure.

"I believe there could be a considerable counter attack (by North Korea)," Rep. Lee Chul-woo told reporters.

"The problematic thing is that North Korea has found out (about NIS's hacking allegations) after not knowing," the NIS agent-turned-legislator said, noting that Seoul is at great risk in cyber warfare.

khj@yna.co.kr
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