Cyber-attack on Japan poses dilemma for Korean police

The question of whether a cyber-attack is legal or criminal has to be answered soon. The issue came to a head over the weekend as South Korean Internet users descended on some Japanese Web sites to protest the upcoming release of history textbooks they say gloss over atrocities by Japan`s imperial army.

The Japanese embassy here was reported to have inquired of the National Police Agency about its possible plan to look into the case and applicable legal provisions. It did not make any official request for an investigation or punishment of those involved.

The ministry of information and communications and police are at a loss as to how to deal with this kind of incident. A mere statement of protest by netizens online would pose no legal problem but the perception could be different if mass access is viewed as an attack upon specific sites, according to authorities concerned. A ministry official said use of an ``assault program`` to strike at a certain Website might be punishable, but simple attempts by many to access a site could hardly be punished. The law on the utilization of communications networks and protection of information provides for up to five years` imprisonment for anyone who commits an attack that results in rejected service.

Kim Tae-Han freewill@donga.com