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By Kim Se-jeong
A government team of investigators said Monday they have requested the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States in locating a person who disclosed blueprints of two Korean nuclear reactors and other critical operational information.
The request comes after the team confirmed that the person used IP addresses in multiple locations including Korea, the U.S. and Japan.
A member of the team told reporters, "We are not sure whether the person himself hacked the website of the reactor operator, but we believe he is very skillful."
He said it will take a while to identify and locate him.
"We are focusing on finding the very first IP address used."
The team asked for the FBI cooperation as the person disclosed the information by links on his Twitter account, which was registered in the U.S.
It also confirmed that the ID that the person used to upload the files on a Naver blog originated in Daegu and was a stolen one.
At the same time, the investigators are trying to find out if the person stole the information alone or had accomplices, and if he himself really hacked the website of the Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Corp. (KHNP) or any employee in the corporation was involved. The KHNP gave the investigation team access to its computers.
The team said it is not ruling out the possibility of North Korea's involvement.
The alleged hacker, who claimed himself a member of anti-nuclear power advocacy group "Who Am I?" from Hawaii, has leaked the information four times since Dec. 15.
In the latest disclosure, Sunday, he revealed the designs and manuals for two nuclear reactors ― the Gori-2 and the Wolsong-1 ― as well as the facilities' air-conditioning and cooling system via links to his Twitter account.
Previously he revealed the personal profiles of 10,799 KHNP officials and information on how to manage control software at the nuclear reactors on the Naver blog.
Despite the person's threat to reveal more information, the government said leaked information would not affect the safety of the nuclear plants.
Lee Kwan-sup, trade, industry and energy vice minister, said, "The information is the KHNP's assets, but it is not that critical nor confidential to result in any danger to the reactors."
The KHNP manages 23 nuclear reactors here. Korea relies heavily on nuclear power, which supplies almost 30 percent of its electricity.
