The BBC has confirmed that North Korea infiltrated the personal emails of an aide to the South Korean president. This breach occurred in the lead-up to President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the UK last November.

According to the president's office, the staff member's personal email account was compromised while conducting official duties.

A local newspaper, citing a high-ranking government source, reported that hackers had gained access to Mr. Yoon's trip schedule.

Additionally, messages sent by the president were reportedly pilfered.

The extent of the stolen information remains undisclosed by the president's office. This incident marks the first known instance of North Korea successfully hacking a member of the South Korean president's team.

The president's office clarified that its security infrastructure remained intact. Rather, the breach stemmed from an individual administrator's violation of security protocols, who utilized a commercial email account for official business, as conveyed to the BBC.

North Korea's utilization of cyber hacking for financial and informational gain continues to evolve, showcasing increasingly sophisticated methods.

Pyongyang is subject to extreme international sanctions, and its cyberhackers seek to steal large sums of money, often in cryptocurrency, to fund the regime and its nuclear weapons programme.

It is estimated to have stolen as much as $3bn since 2016.

North Korea is also thought to carry out hacks with the purpose of stealing state secrets, including details of advanced weapons technology.

The South Korean government source, who spoke to the Kukmin Ilbo on the condition of anonymity, said they were "beyond shocked and appalled" when they learnt about the breach, adding it could have caused problems for Mr Yoon's security abroad.

President Yoon visited London for a three-day state visit in November, during which he met King Charles and Queen Camilla, as well as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The South Korean government said that the incident had been detected before the president's trip began, and the necessary measures were taken to address it.

It added it had taken steps to strengthen its security, including raising awareness among its team, to prevent another such incident from occurring.

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