Seoul has accused Pyongyang of trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine technology

According to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), Pyongyang tried to steal COVID-19 vaccine technology by hacking into Pfizer Inc., Yonhap reported.

Last year, North Korean hackers allegedly tried to hack into at least nine pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Novavax Inc and AstraZeneca.

The South Korean intelligence agency said it has thwarted North Korean attempts to hack into South Korean companies developing coronavirus vaccines.

North Korea is expected to receive nearly two million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine by the first half of this year as part of the COVAX Vaccine Exchange Program.

North Korea has not confirmed the presence of coronavirus infection, but NIS said an outbreak cannot be ruled out, as the country conducted active trade with China until the border was closed in early 2020.