The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology (문화기술의 융합)

The International Promotion Agency of Culture Technology (국제문화기술진흥원)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

A Study on North Korea's Cognitive Warfare against South Korea: Focusing on Reflexive Control and Three Warfares

북한의 대남 인지전에 관한 연구: 재귀통제와 3전(3戰)을 중심으로

  • Received : 2024.09.30
  • Accepted : 2024.11.07
  • Published : 2024.11.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This study aims to analyze North Korea's cognitive warfare capabilities against South Korea based on Russia's reflexive control and China's Three Warfares strategy, and to derive implications thereof. Cognitive warfare, a new form of conflict that aims to distort the enemy's decision-making by influencing their cognitive processes, has gained prominence in recent international disputes. The research findings indicate that North Korea has both the capability and intention to conduct cognitive warfare against South Korea, emulating strategies from Russia and China. This includes various means such as cyber attacks, psychological warfare, and dissemination of false information. To counter these threats, the study proposes several measures: establishing a dedicated national-level organization, enhancing information collection and analysis capabilities, expanding public education on cognitive warfare, developing proactive response strategies, and strengthening international cooperation. This study contributes to raising awareness about the threat of North Korea's cognitive warfare and emphasizes the need for systematic preparedness. It calls for further research on specific countermeasures and the development of relevant policies to effectively address this emerging security challenge in the Korean Peninsula.

본 연구는 러시아의 재귀통제와 중국의 삼전(三戰) 전략을 바탕으로 북한의 대남 인지전 수행 능력을 분석하고 그에 따른 시사점을 도출하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 인지전은 적의 인지 과정에 영향을 미쳐 의사결정을 왜곡시키는 새로운 형태의 전쟁으로, 최근 국제 분쟁에서 그 중요성이 부각되고 있다. 연구 결과, 북한은 러시아와 중국의 인지전 전략을 모방하여 사이버 공격, 심리전, 허위정보 유포 등 다양한 수단을 통해 대남 인지전을 수행할 능력과 의도가 있는 것으로 분석되었다. 이에 대한 대응방안으로 국가 차원의 전담조직 신설, 정보 수집 및 분석 강화, 국민 대상 교육 확대, 적극적 대응 전략 수립, 국제 협력 강화 등이 제시되었다. 본 연구는 북한의 인지전 위협에 대한 인식을 제고하고, 이에 대한 체계적인 대비의 필요성을 강조했다는 점에서 의의가 있다. 향후 더욱 구체적인 대응 방안 연구와 관련 정책 수립이 요구된다.

Keywords

References

  1. Kim, Won-tae. "The Seven Military Classics." Seoul: Book and Tree, 2016.
  2. Oh, Se-jin. "Psychology." Seoul: Hakjisa, 2005.
  3. Lee, Jung-mo. "Cognitive Psychology and the Brain." Seoul: Science and Philosophy, 1999.
  4. Yoo, Yong-won, Shin, Beom-chul, and Kim, Jin-a. "North Korean Military Secret Report." Seoul: Planet Media, 2013.
  5. Choi, Hyun-seok. "All Human Emotions." Paju: Seohaemunjip, 2011.
  6. Republic of Korea Army Headquarters. "Army Vision 2050." Gyeryong: ROK Army Headquarters, 2021.
  7. Ministry of National Defense. "Defense White Paper 2022." Seoul: Ministry of National Defense, 2022.
  8. Kwon, Oh-kook. "Case Study of North Korea's Psychological Warfare Against South Korea: Focusing on Leaflets Distributed in 2016." Journal of Politics and Information Studies, vol. 27, no. 1, 2024.
  9. Kwon, Jun-taek, and Allison Graepe. "Prospects for North Korea-China Relations: Analysis of the 'DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance'." The Korean Journal of Northeast Asian Studies, 2022.
  10. Kim, Kang-mu. "The Impact of Cognitive Biases on Decision-Making Processes and Application of Structured Analytic Techniques for Debiasing (From the Perspective of Intelligence Analysis)." Journal of National Intelligence Studies, vol. 14, no. 2, 2021.
  11. Kim, Dong-hyuk. "Soviet Adaptation of Cybernetics Theory: From Scientific Theory to Social Management Discourse." Sa-Chong, vol. 91, 2017.
  12. Kim, Bo-mi, and Oh, Il-seok. "North Korea's Cyber Threats in the Kim Jong-un Era and Major Countries' Responses." INSS Strategy Report, no. 147, Nov. 2021.
  13. Kim, Sang-hyun. "A Study on the Attack Patterns and Countermeasures of Cognitive Warfare: Focusing on the 2014 Annexation of Crimea and the 2022 Ukraine War." The Journal of Political Science & Communication, vol. 32, no. 4, 2022.
  14. Kim, In-soo. "Evaluation and Prospects of North Korea's Cyber Warfare Capabilities." Unification Policy Studies, vol. 24, no. 1, 2015.
  15. Kim, Jung-han. "A Study on Information Warfare Targeting the Enemy's Cognitive Domain." MA Thesis. Korea National Defense University, 2020.
  16. Kim, Jin-ho, and Choi, Young-chan. "Development Direction of ROK Armed Forces' Cognitive Warfare for Future Warfare: Concepts, Deployment Patterns, and Strategic Responses." The Quarterly Journal of Defense Policy Studies, vol. 39, no. 3, 2023.
  17. Kim, Jong-ha, Kim, Nam-chul, and Choi, Young-chan. "North Korea's Gray Zone Strategy Against South Korea: Concept, Means, and Prospects." Korean Journal of Military Affairs, vol. 10, no. 1, June 2021.
  18. Ri, Jae-soon. "Introduction to Psychology." Pyongyang: Comprehensive Publishing House, 1998.
  19. Park, Nam-tae, and Baek, Seung-jo. "Security Implications of Chinese Strategic Support Force's Cyber Warfare Capabilities for Korea." The Quarterly Journal of Defense Policy Studies, vol. 131, Spring 2021.
  20. Boo, Hyeong-wook. "Hybrid Warfare in Ukraine and Its Implications for Our Security." KIDA, 2022.
  21. Eom, Gu-ho. "Security Implications of the June 19 North Korea-Russia Summit for the Korean Peninsula." Chosun University Institute of Northeast Asian Studies, no. 42, 2024.
  22. Yoon, Min-woo. "Case Analysis of North Korean YouTube Propaganda Utilization as Part of Cognitive Warfare." Korean Journal of Criminal Psychology, vol. 19, no. 3, 2023.
  23. Lee, Sang-kook. "A Study on China's Intelligent Warfare Discussion and Preparation." Journal of National Defense Studies, vol. 63, no. 2, 2020.
  24. Lee, Jung-ha. "Information-Psychological Operations and Reflexive Control of the Russian Federation." Journal of Western History in Korea, vol. 66, 2022.
  25. Lim, Sang-wook. "North Korean Military's Cognitive Warfare and Countermeasures as Seen Through China's Three Warfares." Journal of Spiritual Force Research, no. 77, 2024.
  26. Choi, Young-chan. "Future Conflicts and New Media: Expansion of Conflict Domains, Evolution from Physical to Cognitive Domains, and Multiplication of the Two Domains." ROK Army Military Science Review, 2022.
  27. Choi, Hyun-ho. "Cognitive Warfare, an Attack on the Human Domain: Inducing Human Behavioral Changes by Revealing Vulnerabilities." Defense Forum, vol. 23, no. 10, 2023.
  28. Ha, Min-soo. "Exploring Cognitive Biases That Hinder Rational Problem Solving and Methods for Debiasing Through Science Education." Journal of the Korean Association for Science Education, 2011.
  29. NATO. Cognitive Warfare: An attack on truth and thought. 2020.
  30. Innovation hub. Warfighting 2040 project report.
  31. Claverie, B., et al. "Cognitive Warfare: The Advent of the Concept of 'Cognitics' in the Field of Warfare." 2022.
  32. Bernal, Alonso, et al. Cognitive Warfare: An attack on Truth and Thought. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University, 2020.
  33. Claverie, Bernard, and Francois du Cluzel. "The Cognitive Warfare Concept." 2021.
  34. Cheatham, Michael J., et al. "Cognitive Warfare: The Fight for Gray Matter in the Digital Gray Zone." Joint Force Quarterly, no. 114, 31 July 2024.
  35. Backes, Oliver, and Andrew Swab. "Cognitive Warfare: The Russian Threat to Election Integrity in the Baltic States." 2019.
  36. Thomas, Timothy L. "Russia's Reflexive Control Theory and the Military." Journal of Slavic Military Studies, no. 17, 2004.
  37. Hung, Tzu-Chieh, and Tzu-Wei Hung. "How China's Cognitive Warfare Works." Journal of Global Security Studies, 2020.
  38. Kim, Sun-ho. " Internet, Control or Utilize: Social Media, Between Peace and War (Part 2)." Korea Defense Daily, 18 Dec. 2019.
  39. Park, Kyung-hoon. "'North Korean Goddess YouTuber Yumi' Promoting North Korean Regime Can't Be Seen in South Korea." Seoul Economic Daily, 20 Feb. 2024.
  40. Lim, Seok-hoon. "[Manpasikjeok] China's 'Cognitive Warfare'." Seoul Economic Daily, 19 Mar. 2023.
  41. Yang, Wook. "Efforts to Block North Korea's Cognitive Warfare... Joint Chiefs of Staff's Quiet Response." Economy Chosun, no. 496, 20 June 2023.
  42. Yang, Ji-ho. "North Korea 'Temporarily Suspends Trash Scattering. Will Re-scatter 100 Times If Leaflets Are Found'." Chosun Ilbo, 2 June 2024.
  43. Choi, Yu-chan. "North Korea Employs Even Russian Women for SNS Propaganda." MBC News, 4 Mar. 2024.
  44. Choi, In-young, and Shin, Chang-yong. "Putin Leaves Pyongyang After '21-hour North Korea Visit' with Kim Jong-un's Send-off." Yonhap News, 20 June 2024.
  45. Han, Do-hyung. "Expert: 'We Should Launch Cognitive Warfare Offensive to Prevent North Korea from Using Tactical Nukes'." Radio Free Asia, 30 June 2023.
  46. Liu, Dengliang. "Russian State Duma Chairman: Ukrainian President Zelensky Has Left Kyiv." China CCTV, 26 Feb. 2022.