SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Hackers apparently broke into at least two of North Korea's government-run online sites Thursday, as tensions rose on the Korean Peninsula.

The North's Uriminzokkiri Twitter and Flickr accounts stopped sending out content typical of that posted by the regime in Pyongyang, such as photos of North's leader Kim Jong Un meeting with military officials.

Instead, a picture posted Thursday on the North's Flickr site shows Kim's face with a pig-like snout and a drawing of Mickey Mouse on his chest. Underneath, the text reads: "Threatening world peace with ICBMs and Nuclear weapons/Wasting money while his people starve to death."
(HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)

Another posting says "We are Anonymous" in white letters against a black background. Anonymous is a name of a hacker activist group. A statement purporting to come from the attackers and widely circulated online said that they had compromised 15,000 user records hosted on Uriminzokkiri.com and other websites. The authenticity of the statement couldn't be confirmed, but the North's official website did not open Thursday.

Tweets on the North's Twitter account said "Hacked" followed by a link to North Korea-related websites. One tweet said "Tango Down" followed by a link to the North's Flickr page.

North Korea opened its Twitter account in 2010. It has more than 13,000 followers. The North uses the social media to praise its system and leaders and also to repeat commentaries sent out by North's official Korean Central News Agency.

Tensions have been high in recent days between North and South Korea, and the North's military warned Thursday that it had been authorized to attack the U.S. North Korea is angry about sanctions against its nuclear program and joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea.

Humour, even sarcastic humour and ridicule are deadly weapons in waging propaganda wars properly. Perhaps the various Intelligence and Pentagon handlers have taken off the muzzles for all their hired hackers and we can look forward to some delightful comedy for a change.

North Korea needs to try to join the world... just a little.

We have to remember that North Korea has been ostracized by the rest of the world with economic/trade sanctions for ages. They had been playing the nuclear card for a few years in hopes of getting a better deal, but our side never gave an inch as far as compromise. The six party talks broke down, etc.

What makes me feel kinda rotten is that none of the governments (including the government of North Korea) gives a $hit about the people of North Korea, the long-suffering victims of this stupid political game.

The only good thing I've heard recently is that somebody at the pentagon must have had a few brain cells firing and convinced (hopefully) the administration that maybe backing young Kim Jong Un into a corner by poking him with sticks might not be the smartest idea they ever had. Seems doing so might make him "honour bound" to do something extremely stupid, so they now want to at least give him the option to calm down gracefully.

Who knows...maybe they can re-start the talks and waste a few more years playing hegemonic games while the North Koreans starve to death.

I think the likelihood is high something stupid will ensue.

If they get desperate enough and they have nothing to loose, probably.

Send them a bunch of flat screen televisions and drop food on them.

So does China, which is on full alert, and also has a defence treaty with North Korea. If North Korea is attacked, it will mean war with China, which is probably something the US really wants too...it doesn't want to have to pay its debt to China and could really use a major war right now to rally the country behind the flag...after all, it worked on 9/11...for awhile.

War with China would not be good.

Maybe somebody should let the administration know. I have a feeling that right about now, the Fed thinks it's a peachy idea and has persuaded the administration of the economic benefits of such a war.

even without nukes, china is over a billion strong... like a frigging ant nest...

yep,China is going to lose the American Market over NK!
Are they going to eat all that tainted Stuff themselves?

I think they've been eating it for ages. I thought that was part of the original deal the corporations made with China...It would serve as a test market for goods designed to cull the less useful eaters from the population and then export the goods that worked "best" to the West.

I think this is all part of the austerity programs being introduced in light of the banking crisis. All surpluses must be dedicated to reducing the outstanding debt. It seems the only thing both East and West can agree on, and the only "surplus" they have left is a "surplus population" of creditors to either kill off or pay...Obviously the former alternative has been the preferred choice for quite some time.

hope they like the taste of Leadpaint,Dioxine etc!


and it seems,by the MO of those Hacks,that China is getting a bit tired of NK constantly P**sing in their leaded Wheaties!

They must; they're still eating it...and have some pity on the North Koreans...The only reason they're p**sing in China's Wheaties is because they have none of their own to p**s in. Most North Koreans are eating grass to stay alive, which probably works in their favour healthwise, since it is organic & non-GM.

Cooking Dear Leader-Slug could feed quite a few N-Korean peasants for weeks!
Then they could move on to the Generals,Party-Officials and those fat Civilservants!

Good idea!...If it works for the North Koreans, we should try it here.

I can already see it as the "Duck Special" on a Canadian french restaurant menu..."Harper a l'Orange" (yum!)