Chinese-Made Video Systems Deployed in Korean Army Command Centers, Raising Security Fears
One in every six video-conferencing units operated by the Republic of Korea Army is Chinese-made, raising concerns over potential leaks of military secrets. The concerns are particularly acute because the equipment is concentrated in corps- and division-level command centers, where sensitive informa
A recent report has raised alarms about the deployment of Chinese-made video systems within the Korean Army's command centers, sparking concerns over potential security breaches. According to data supplied by the Army to Representative Yoo Yong-won of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, nearly 16% of the Army's 800 video-conferencing units are manufactured by Yealink, a Chinese telecommunications company.
These devices are predominantly stationed at critical locations such as corps- and division-level command centers, where highly sensitive military operations and orders are exchanged.
The security risks are heightened due to the live streaming of audio and video through these systems, which could potentially expose confidential information. In 2024, the state of Oklahoma removed Yealink products from its government network following similar security concerns. Representative Yoo expressed serious reservations about the use of these devices at facilities dealing with sensitive military data.
The Korean Army has defended its choice of equipment, asserting that the video-conferencing units are linked exclusively through a secure, wired military video teleconferencing (VTC) network, which is isolated from the public internet. They also stated that the products underwent a security assessment by the Defense Counterintelligence Command before being procured, and subsequent checks by the Cyber Operations Command did not uncover significant vulnerabilities.
Additionally, the Army claims various protective measures, including encryption and network access control, are in place.
However, these assurances seem insufficient to quell the broader worries regarding the proliferation of Chinese-made equipment in military settings. The issue of Chinese-made technology in the military is not limited to video-conferencing systems. The armed forces are reportedly using over 1,770 Chinese-made CCTV cameras, with 510 cameras acquired by the Army from 2022 to 2024, among others utilized by the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps for perimeter security and unit management.
Recent revelations also indicate that over 190 Chinese-made connected cars, equipped with cameras and communication capabilities, have been registered for access to crucial military facilities, including key government offices and naval substations. These connected cars can potentially relay sensitive data, including GPS coordinates and audio from onboard microphones, to external servers, potentially disclosing confidential military intel.
While military authorities are only now drafting regulations for the introduction of smart devices and connected cars to military bases, the recent incidents have cast doubt on whether adequate safeguards were implemented quickly enough.
Written by urgent.news from BusinessKorea's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
