 | |
 China |  South Korea |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Embassy of China, Seoul | Korean Embassy, Beijing |
| Envoy | |
| AmbassadorDai Bing [ko] | AmbassadorRoh Jae-heon [ko] |
ThePeople's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) formally established modern diplomatic relations in May 1988. South Korea was the last Asian country to establish relations with the People's Republic of China. In recent years, China and South Korea have endeavored to boost theirstrategic and cooperative partnership in numerous sectors, as well as promoting a high-level relationship.[1] Trade, tourism and multiculturalism, specifically, have been the most important factors of strengthening the two neighbouring countries' cooperative partnership. Despite this, historical, political and cultural disputes have still played several roles on the relations between South Korea and China, especially with China being politically aligned withNorth Korea.[2]
Both nations have had close ties that reach back thousands of years, which were especially cooperative during theSong andMing Dynasty, which cooperated withGoryeo and theJoseon Dynasty respectively. The Ming and Joseon emerged after the invasion of the Mongols and shared closeConfucian ideals in its society. Furthermore, the Ming had assisted Joseon duringToyotomi Hideyoshi'sinvasion of Korea, in which theWanli Emperor sent a total of 221,500 troops.[3] Joseon had also usedClassical Chinese as a common script alongsideKorean, and its central government was modelled after the Chinese system.[4][5]
During theCold War, China and South Korea were in opposing sides, with China supporting North Korea during theKorean War. Unofficial contacts between the two countries started in the 1970s and 1980s, both during theSino-Soviet split, and official relations were established in 1988. Contemporary relations between China and South Korea are characterized by extensive trading and economic relations. China is by far South Korea's largest trading partner, with China importing goods worth $168 billion from South Korea in 2024, which comprised 25% of South Korea's total exports. 23% of South Korea's imports also came from China, worth $139 billion in 2024. In 2015, China and South Korea signed the bilateralChina–South Korea Free Trade Agreement. In November 2020, China and South Korea, along with 13 otherAsia-Pacific nations, signed theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Relations deteriorated considerably after South Korea announced itsintentions to deploy THAAD, a move that China strongly opposed. China imposed anunofficial boycott on South Korea in an attempt to stop them from deploying the missile system.[6] However, at the end of October 2017, the two countries ended the 1-year-long diplomatic dispute and have been working swiftly to get their relationship back on track since, strengthening exchanges and cooperation between each other, creating harmony of interests, and agreeing to resume exchanges and cooperation in all areas. All economic and cultural bans from China towards South Korea were also lifted as a result, with political and security cooperation, businesses and cultural exchanges between the two countries getting back to healthy state.[7][8][9][10] Upon the relationship's resumption, China and South Korea have been organizing presidential and governmental visits, working together on theKorean Peninsula, assisting with the development of other countries, and cooperating in numerous areas.[11][12][13][14]
In 1983, relations between China and South Korea were normalized, deepening economic and political ties. Since then, China and South Korea had upgraded their relationship in five phases: In 1983, it was a “friendly cooperative relationship”; in 1998, it was called a “collaborative partnership for the 21st century”; in 2003, it was described as a “comprehensive cooperative partnership”; in 2008, it was considered a “strategic cooperative partnership”; and in 2014 it was called an “enriched strategic cooperative partnership”.[15][16]
Since 2004, China has been the main trade partner of Korea and is considered a key player for the improvement of inter-Korean relationships. South Korea is perceived by China as the weakest link in the US alliance network in Northeast Asia. North Korea's nuclear issue and U.S. military support to South Korea have been the main threats to bilateral ties in recent years.[2]
During the presidency ofPark Geun-Hye,[2] a “balanced diplomacy” was restored, which PresidentMoon Jae-in has also followed.[17] In recent years South Korea has avoided supporting the United States statements against China to avoid conflict.[18]
Diplomatic relations between theQing dynasty and theKorean Empire were established on September 11, 1899, but relations were halted in 1905 as a result of theEulsa Treaty that made Korea a Japanese protectorate and which was then annexed by theEmpire of Japan in 1910. Later, theRepublic of Chinagovernment recognized the formation of theProvisional Government of the Republic of Korea on April 13, 1919, as one of the participants of theCairo Conference, which resulted in theCairo Declaration. One of the main purposes of the Cairo Declaration was to create an independent Korea, free fromJapanese colonial rule.[19] Bilateral diplomatic relations between the Government of theRepublic of Korea and theRepublic of China were re-established in 1948, just after the foundation of theFirst Republic, hence making China the first country to recognize the Republic of Korea as the sole legitimate government of Korea. During theCold War, the People's Republic of China recognized only the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) while South Korea in turn recognized only theRepublic of China (Taiwan).[citation needed]
The newly establishedPeople's Republic of China participated in theKorean War between 1950 and 1953, sending thePeople's Volunteer Army to fight alongside theSoviet Union against theUnited States andUnited Nations troops in October 1950. It successfully drove the invading UN forces out of North Korea, but its own invasion of the South itself was repelled. The participation of the PVA strained relations between South Korea and China. The Korean War concluded in July 1953, resulting in the establishment of theKorean Demilitarized Zone, and the eventual withdrawal of Chinese forces from the Korean Peninsula. However, US troops have still remained in South Korea to this day.[citation needed]
Throughout theCold War, there were no official relations between the PRC and ROK. The PRC maintained close relations withNorth Korea, and South Korea maintained diplomatic relations with the Republic of China inTaiwan. This hindered trade between Seoul and Beijing, because South Korea was unable to protect its citizens and business interests in China without some form of international agreements. Beijing's economic needs involving South Korea were initially eclipsed by those ofMoscow.[clarification needed]
In 1973, PresidentPark Chung Hee announced his "Peaceful Reunification Foreign Policy" and expressed interest in establishing diplomatic relations with communist countries, including the People's Republic of China.[20]: 165 Park initiated and PresidentChun Doo-hwan advanced a policy of establishing relations with China and theSoviet Union, and attempting to improve those withNorth Korea. China and the USSR had significant sway in determining the future of theKorean Peninsula. Good relations with old allies of North Korea were therefore integral to theNordpolitik policy.
Seoul's official contact with Beijing started by the landing of a hijackedCAAC Flight 296 in May 1983. China sent a delegation of thirty-three officials to Seoul to negotiate its return. This marked the beginning of a series of casual exchanges of citizens. For example, in March 1984, a South Korean tennis team visitedKunming for aDavis Cup match with a Chinese team. In April 1984, a thirty-four-member Chinese basketball team arrived in Seoul to participate in the Eighth Asian Junior Basketball Championships. Some Chinese officials reportedly paid quiet visits to South Korea to inspect its industries, while South Korean officials visited China to attend a range of international conferences.
In the 1980s, economic and unofficial ties between the two countries were extensive.[20]: 169
Other international relations changes in the late 1980s and early 1990s helped improve relations between China and South Korea.[20]: 166 Following diplomatic normalization between South Korea and the Soviet Union, China's own improving relations with Moscow, and the simultaneous admission of North Korea and South Korea to the United Nations in 1991, China became less concerned with North Korea's reaction to China's improving ties with South Korea.[20]: 166
South Korea had been an ally of theRepublic of China.[20]: 163 In May 1988, formal diplomatic relations were established between South Korea and the PRC. South Korea stated that the PRC was "the sole legal government of China".[20]: 160 A peace treaty was also signed at the ceremony declaring an official end of hostilities between South Korea and China as a result of the 1953Korean Armistice Agreement.[21] On September 3, 1994, China withdrew from theMilitary Armistice Commission atPanmunjom, which left only North Korea and theUnited Nations Command as the only participants in the Korean Armistice Agreement. South Korea never signed the agreement.[22]
Furthermore, China has attempted to mediate between North Korea and the US; between North Korea and Japan; and also initiated and promoted tripartite talks—between Pyongyang, Seoul, and Washington.[23]
On 29 November 2010, aUnited States diplomatic cables leak mentioned two unknown Chinese officials telling then Vice-Foreign MinisterChun Yung-woo that the PRC would favor a Korea reunified under the South's government, as long as it was not hostile to China.[24]
It was announced on 10 January 2011 that theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) established two teams of China experts and language specialists under its department handling Chinese affairs in an effort to strengthen diplomacy.[25] An analytical team will report on political, economic and foreign affairs developments in China, and a monitoring team consisting of seven language specialists will report on public sentiment in China. The Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS), a think-tank affiliated to MOFAT, also launched a centre dedicated to China affairs, which will act as a hub to collate research on China undertaken in Korea.[26]
The Park-Xi summit in 2013 showed promise of warming relations, but this quickly chilled after China extended theirAir Defense Identification Zone (East China Sea) over South Korean territory.[27] Despite this, in July 2014, Xi visited South Korea before its traditional ally North Korea, and in their talks, both leaders affirmed their support for a nuclear-free Korean peninsula and the ongoing free trade agreement negotiations.[28] Both leaders also expressed their concerns over Japanese Prime MinisterShinzō Abe's reinterpretation ofArticle 9 of the Japanese Constitution.
On 23 March 2021,Chinese leaderXi Jinping and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed to promote dialogue between the two countries, to reschedule a visit by Xi to South Korea that was postponed last year due to the pandemic, and to work out a blueprint for the development of bilateral ties over the next three decades.[29] In May 2021, Moon issued a statement remarking that South Korea would work with the United States on stability in Taiwan,[30] which provoked a warning from China.[31] On December 23, 2021, it was reported that senior South Korean diplomats, including Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun will hold talks online with Chinese diplomats.Zhao Lijian, a Chinese government spokesperson said that he hoped the meeting could "have a positive effect on enhancing communication and mutual trust and the promotion of bilateral relations". Just a week earlier, Taiwanese Digital Minister Audrey Tang revoked an invitation to speak at a press conference in Seoul.[32]
Relations frayed under the presidency ofYoon Suk Yeol, who prioritized closer relations with the United States. After taking office in 2025, PresidentLee Jae Myung has focused on improving relations with China.[33] In October 2025, he hosted Chinese leader Xi in South Korea; this was Xi's first visit to South Korea since 2014.[34] This was reciprocated by a visit by Lee to China in January 2026, the first visit by a South Korean president since 2019. During the visit, Lee called for a "full-scale restoration of South Korea-China relations".[35] During the visit, he criticizedanti-Chinese sentiment in South Korea and those who spread conspiracy theories regarding China's involvement in election fraud in South Korea, which he said "angered Chinese people and drove them to turn their backs on Korea". He said that anti-Chinese sentiment harmed the country as it contributed toanti-Korean sentiment in China, leading to consumer boycotts of Korean goods and products.[36]
Active South Korean-Chinese individual contacts have been encouraged. Academics, journalists, and particularly families divided between South Korea and China were able to exchange visits freely in the late 1980s. Significant numbers of citizens of each country reside in the other. As of 2009[update], more than 600,000PRC citizens reside in South Korea, of whom 70% areethnic Koreans from theYanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China'sJilin Province and other parts of China, while roughly 560,000 South Korean citizens lived in China.[37][38] As of at least 2019, Korea is the number one source for foreign students studying abroad in China.[20]: 169
China is by far South Korea's largest trading partner, with a total trade worth $331 billion in 2025.[39] South Korea exported goods worth $168 billion to China (including Hong Kong) in 2024, which comprised 25% of South Korea's total exports. 23% of South Korea's imports also came from China, worth $139 billion in 2024.[40] South Korea ran a trade surplus with China until 2023. In that year, South Korea recorded a trade deficit with China for the first time since 1992.[41]
Trade between the two countries have increased rapidly, especially after the China'sreform and opening up. Between 1978 and 1991, trade between South Korea and China increased from US$37,000 to U$4.4 billion.[20]: 165 By 2004 China had become South Korea's leading trading partner.[42] By 2018, bilateral trade between the two countries had increased by a factor of 60 since 1991.[20]: 169 After theUnited States–Korea Free Trade Agreement was finalized on 30 June 2007, the Chinese government immediately began seeking an FTA agreement with South Korea.[43] TheChina–South Korea Free Trade Agreement was finalized on December 20, 2015. Tariffs on 958 products including medical equipment, transformers, etc. were eliminated. On 1 January 2016, tariffs were eliminated on 5,779 products for 2 years.[44][45] Also in 2015, South Korea and China established won-yuan direct exchange markets.[20]: 169 South Korea and China are both members of theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).[46][20]: 169
Since 2016, Chinese vessels with the proper authorisation have been allowed to fish in South Korean waters, but illegal fishing has become a recent point of contention.[47] During the four years leading up to 2016, roughly 2,200 Chinese vessels had been stopped and fined by South Korean authorities for fishing illegally.[48] In December 2010, the crew of a Chinese trawler clashed with a South Korean patrol ship, leaving one fisherman dead, two missing, and four coast guards injured.[49]
In September 2016, three Chinese fishermen suspected of illegal fishing died after their boat was boarded by officers from theSouth Korean coast guard, who threwflashbang grenades into thewheelhouse to drive the barricaded crew out but ended up also setting the fishing boat on fire.[47][48]
In October 2016, South Korea lodged a formal complaint with Beijing accusing two Chinese fishing boats of ramming and sinking a South Korean coast guard speedboat. The incident occurred on 7 October when coast guard officers tried to stop about 40 Chinese boats suspected ofillegal fishing.[50] On 1 November 2016, another clash took place west ofIncheon where two Chinese fishing boats were seized. The South Korean coast guard fired warning shots on both occasions, but no casualties were reported.[51]
TheSouth Korean Coast Guard reportedly seized 18 illegal Chinese fishing vessels in 2020, 66 in 2021, 42 in 2022, 54 in 2023, and 46 in 2024.[52][53]
In June 2023, the two countries entered into an agreement whereby South Korea would notify China of suspected illegal fishing in North Korean waters. China has banned its fleet from fishing there followingU.N. sanctions against North Korea. It would in turn inform South Korea of the results of follow-up investigations. The two countries also decided to expand joint patrols, which are currently limited to parts of the provisional measures zone where boats from both countries can fish.[54]
In December 2024, South Korean intelligence detected a floating structure built by the PRC in a disputed area of theYellow Sea where theexclusive economic zones (EEZ) of the two countries overlap.[55][56] The long-running dispute over fishing rights and EEZ intensified after South Korea opened aresearch platform in 2003 above the submergedSocotra Rock.[57] Some commentators stated that China's installation of buoys took advantage of the2024 South Korean martial law crisis.[57] In February 2025, a South Korean research vessel was blocked from examining the structure byChina Coast Guard ships,[58] which sparked protests by South Korean veterans at theEmbassy of China, Seoul.[59]
In October 2025, more than 800 Chinese fishing boats were spotted in the Yellow Sea with more than 130 of these observed near theNorthern Limit Line during the autumn crab season which led theSouth Korean Coast Guard to launch a large-scale crackdown onIIU fishing. It was reported that eleven 1,000-ton large patrol ships, eight 300-ton midsize ships, and three special response boats would be deployed for the effort.[53]
In late 2016, the United States and South Korea jointly announced the deployment of theTerminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), in response to nuclear and missile threats by North Korea.[60] The move drew opposition from China and Russia.[61][62] Stating that the THAAD will undermine China's own nuclear deterrent capability, China’s AmbassadorQiu Guohong warned that the deployment of THAAD could “destroy” the China–South Korea ties in an instant, whereas the spokesperson of the president of South Korea warned China that deploying the THAAD is a “matter we will decide upon according to our own security and national interests."[63]
With South Korea's decision in 2017 to accept the deployment ofTHAAD in the country, although China's government shied away from formal sanctions and measures, it has urged its citizens through official media to express their displeasure and ill will at South Korea over the move.[64] Chinese citizens were allowed to gather to protest. The news media has reported of citizen boycotts of South Korean products likeHyundai cars, of South Korean goods being removed from supermarket shelves, and tourists and travel companies canceling trips to South Korea.[65] After the 2017 THAAD deployment, a "Korea limitation order" (Chinese:限韩令) was placed uponHallyu. In China, Hallyu cultural events were canceled, Korean actors had to quit from their works and limited Korean media could be exported to China. The ban was lifted soon after, and relations cooled.[66]
To relieve the economic strain the informal Chinese sanctions placed on South Korea, president Moon promised “three No-s,” saying that he would not participate in the US missile defense system, that he was not considering the additional deployment of THAAD, and that Japan-US-Korea security cooperation would not develop into a military alliance.[67] For aims of adétente (a relaxation of tension), China and South Korea held a summit inHangzhou, eastern China, on Sept. 5, 2016 with each party's leaders,CCP General SecretaryXi Jinping and PresidentPark Geun-Hye, to discuss the issue of THAAD. During the summit, Park reemphasized that the THAAD deployment is only to be aimed against North Korea and that there should be no reason for China's security interest to be concerned. However, Xi reiterated China's firm stance against the deployment of THAAD stating that it could “intensify disputes". Yet, the two countries still emphasized the long history of their relationship and agreed that a stable and healthy bilateral relationship will benefit both countries.[68]
In 2024, Koreans expressed anger after learning that China'sJilin Province had designated the cooking method fordolsot bibimbap, a variation of the traditional Korean dish bibimbap, as part of its regional cultural heritage. The move, made in 2021, was viewed by many in South Korea as cultural appropriation and encroachment by China, as the designation described the dish as originating from the ethnic KoreanJoseonjok community in China. The revelation sparked widespread criticism online, with many accusing Beijing of repeatedly claiming Korean cultural elements as its own.[69]
On 13 October 2020,RM, a member and also leader of South Korean boy groupBTS, made a speech about theKorean War, where he told South Korea shared history of pains with theUnited States. This caused uproar in China, and Chinese-run media lashed out at BTS for what they perceived as bias and insensitivity to China's role on the other side of the conflict, and some Chinese netizens have called to boycott Korean popular culture.[70][71] This has led to backlash among some Korean netizens who accused China of exaggerating the situation.[72]
The Chinese historical claims surroundingGoguryeo created some tension between Korea and the PRC.[73] The PRC government has recently begun theNortheast Project, a controversial research project claiming Goguryeo to be aChinese tributary state. This sparked a massive uproar in South Korea when the project was widely publicized in 2004.[74] Reasons for launching theNortheast Project were reportedly theirredentist rhetoric promoted by some South Koreans over China'sNortheast provinces coupled with North Korea's UNESCO application for registeringKoguryo Tomb murals as its first world heritage site.[75][76] Past president,Roh Moo-Hyun, expressed regret over China's Northeast Project during a meeting with Chinese PremierWen Jiabao. He stated that although it is said to be conducted at the level of academic research institutions, it could have a negative impact on bilateral relations. He also requested that the Chinese government take necessary measures in accordance with the agreement made with the South Korean government.[77] To counter the Northeast Project, South Korea's government launched the Koguryo Research Foundation[78] and in 2007 rewrote theKorean Bronze Age in history textbooks to have started in 2000 B.C. rather than 1000 B.C.[79]
Tensions from Goguryeo have also involvedBaekdu Mountain, with claims made by South Korean activists and scholars that the mountain is Korean territory.[80] In 2009, irredentism reportedly expressed by many South Korean tourists to the Chinese side of the mountain had irked local hosts.[76] In 2014, celebritiesKim Soo-hyun andGianna Jun received backlash after appearing in an ad for Chinese bottled water companyHengda bingquan because Hengda listed the source of its water as "Jang bai shan" (Changbai Mountain) instead of the Korean name. Both actors then sought to revoke their ad contracts[81] but Kim later decided to continue with the ad, disappointing many of his fans.[82]
In 2020, South Korean media outletJTBC reported that a number of Americancollege prep books described Korea as part of China during theTang,Ming, andQing dynasties.[83] It also reported that Chinese websiteBaidu listed Korean activistsAn Jung-geun,Kim Ku,Yun Bong-gil, andYun Dong-ju asKorean-Chinese and PresidentMoon Jae-in as "Joseon" and "Korean" before removing "Joseon". The South Korean government said it was monitoring the situation.[83]
FireEye claims that two hacking operations tied to the Chinese military, dubbed Tonto Team and Stone Panda/APT10, attempted to hack the South KoreanMinistry of Foreign Affairs and other targets related to the deployment ofTHAAD.[84][85] China has reportedly been engaged in economic espionage against South Korean technology companies, includingSamsung Electronics andSK Hynix.<ref name="Chinese intelligence activity abroad ktchina">
PRC entities have been accused of attempting to influence opinions in South Korea through online propaganda campaigns.[86][87] In November 2023, theNational Intelligence Service reported that Chinese companies had established dozens of fake websites that mimicked legitimate Korean news outlets. They posted articles from other outlets without permission and spread pro-China and anti-USpropaganda.[88] The NIS has asked social media companies to remove the propaganda stories.[89][90]
In 2022, South Korean authorities began investigating reports ofChinese police stations in the country following a report fromSafeguard Defenders. Chinese officials denied having "so-called secret police stations" overseas. A restaurant owner accused of operating one also denied the reports.[91]
In June 2023, South Korean prosecutors charged a formerSamsung Electronics executive and his six accomplices with stealing trade secrets from Samsung in order to establish a copycatchip factory in China. The former executive had worked for 18 years at Samsung and another decade atSK Hynix before raising funds for his own semiconductor companies in China and Singapore, luring over 200 experts from Samsung and Hynix in the process.[92] The same month,Seoul police arrested a Chinese researcher and charged him with smuggling thousands of files related tomedical robot technology to China. He had worked in South Korea at a robotics lab for over 10 years and a hospital for five years, during which time he disguised the stolen technology as his own invention before applying for and receiving subsidies from China'sThousand Talents Plan.[93]
In August 2024, South Korean authorities indicted a Korea Defence Intelligence Command employee on charges of selling military secrets to Chinese intelligence over a period of seven years.[94][95]
In October 2025, China'sMinistry of Commerce banned Chinese companies from dealing with five U.S. subsidiaries ofHanwha Ocean.[96]
A 2013BBC/GlobeScan poll found that 44% of Chinese had a positive view of South Korea's influence while 28% had a negative view.[97] A 2015 survey referenced inThe Hankyoreh found that 66.1% of Chinese respondents had a favourable view of South Korea.[98] A 2021 survey conducted by scholars fromRice University, theUniversity of British Columbia, and theLee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy had 43% of Chinese expressing an unfavourable view of South Korea, compared to 49% expressing a favourable view.[99] 2017 BBC poll stated a far more grim picture, with only 25% of Chinese having favourable view of South Korea while 71% expressed unfavourable views of South Korea.[citation needed] According to a 2025 poll by theChicago Council on Global Affairs and theCarter Center, 36% of Chinese people consider South Korea to be a friend of China, while 63% do not.[100]
A 2019 survey from theAsan Institute for Policy Studies found that 51.4% of South Korean respondents held an unfavourable view of China, compared to 62.9% unfavourability for Japan, 47.9% for North Korea, 15.3% for the U.S.[101] A 2020Gallup International poll had 84% of South Koreans viewing China's foreign policy as destabilizing to the world, which was the second highest percentage out of 44 countries surveyed.[102][103] According to surveys conducted by theEast Asia Institute, unfavorable views of China in South Korea have increased significantly, rising from 16% in 2015 to over 71% in 2025.[104] A survey in 2025 from thePew Research Center found that 80% of South Koreans had an unfavourable view of China, while 19% had a favorable view.[105] According to a KStatResearch poll in October 2025, 22% of South Koreans had favorable opinions of China, while 69% had a negative opinion; most commonly cited reasons for negative opinions were the perceived behaviors of Chinese people (23%), China's one-party communist system (15%), the country's alliance with North Korea (14%) and perceived interference in South Korean politics (14%). Nevertheless, 53% disagreed with anti-Chinese protesters compared to 43% of those who agreed with them, though support was higher among younger people.[106]
Poor relations along with media reports and movies perpetuating a negative, criminal image ofChinese in South Korea has led to some online hate speech expressed in the top comments of major news portals.[107][108] During theCOVID-19 pandemic, more than half a million South Korean citizens have signed a petition lobbying the government toban Chinese from entering the country.[109][110]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link){{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link){{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)Observers believe the move signals Beijing's intent to strengthen future territorial claims, taking advantage of South Korea's political turmoil following recent martial law declarations.
Analysts downplay claims that China is taking advantage of South Korea's political turmoil, where attention is almost entirely focused on efforts to impeach Yoon and the opposition parties' demands for fresh elections to seize a larger portion of the disputed waters. "It would take time to plan and implement something like this, particularly in the maritime environment, so I do not believe it was deliberately linked to the problems in Korea today," said Kim.
FireEye claims to have found evidence that the attacks were staged by two groups connected to the Chinese military. One, dubbed Tonto Team by FireEye, operates from the same region of China as previous North Korean hacking operations. The other is known among threat researchers as APT10, or 'Stone Panda'—the same group believed to be behind recent espionage efforts against US companies lobbying the Trump administration on global trade. These groups have also been joined in attacks by two 'patriotic hacking' groups not directly tied to the Chinese government, Hultquist told the Journal—including one calling itself 'Denounce Lotte Group' targeting the South Korean conglomerate Lotte. Lotte made the THAAD deployment possible through a land swap with the South Korean government.
A cybersecurity firm in the United States believes state-sponsored Chinese hackers were trying to infiltrate an organization with connections to a US-built missile system in South Korea that Beijing firmly opposes. [...] When asked if the group could be North Koreans posing as Chinese hackers, Hultquist said his team had gathered plenty of evidence to prove the group's origins, including their use of the Chinese language.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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