The government is pushing to create the post of cyber security secretary at the presidential office

Cheong Wa Dae in a bid to rapidly and efficiently cope with cyber attacks on key national organizations, officials at the ruling party said Sunday.

   The presidential cyber security secretary, if appointed, will report directly to the chief of Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office, the officials said.

   Last week, several of the nation's major television stations and banks suffered what appeared to be simultaneous hacking attacks, raising the need for a control tower in case of a nationwide outbreak of cyber terrorism.

   Investigations are under way into all possible causes of the massive computer network failures, including the involvement of North Korea, which has threatened to attack South Korea and the United States in retaliation for South Korea-U.S. joint military drills and the United Nations' fresh sanctions for its recent nuclear test.

   "Countermoves against nationwide cyber terrorism and attacks are spread across government bodies, including the National Intelligence Service, the National Police Agency, the military cyber command and the Korea Communications Service," said an official at the ruling Saenuri Party.

   "Under the current structure, an efficient and rapid countermove against hackers can hardly be expected."

   Presidential spokeswoman Kim Haeng told reporters that the government was reviewing a possible revision of relevant laws and other measures with regard to responses to cyber terrorism.

   As part of the possible changes, the presidential office is considering requiring broadcasters and other news organizations to immediately report to the government if they come under a cyber attack, she said.

(Yonhap News)