• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2018

In this work, a hardware based cryptographic module for the cyber security of nuclear power plant is developed using a system engineering approach. Nuclear power plants are isolated from the Internet, but as shown in the case of Iran, Man-in-the-middle attacks (MITM) could be a threat to the safety of the nuclear facilities. This FPGA-based module does not have an operating system and it provides protection as a firewall and mitigates the cyber threats. The encryption equipment consists of an encryption module, a decryption module, and interfaces for communication between modules and systems. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)-128, which is formally approved as top level by U.S. National Security Agency for cryptographic algorithms, is adopted. The development of the cyber security module is implemented in two main phases: reverse engineering and re-engineering. In the reverse engineering phase, the cyber security plan and system requirements are analyzed, and the AES algorithm is decomposed into functional units. In the re-engineering phase, we model the logical architecture using Vitech CORE9 software and simulate it with the Enhanced Functional Flow Block Diagram (EFFBD), which confirms the performance improvements of the hardware-based cryptographic module as compared to software based cryptography. Following this, the Hardware description language (HDL) code is developed and tested to verify the integrity of the code. Then, the developed code is implemented on the FPGA and connected to the personal computer through Recommended Standard (RS)-232 communication to perform validation of the developed component. For the future work, the developed FPGA based encryption equipment will be verified and validated in its expected operating environment by connecting it to the Advanced power reactor (APR)-1400 simulator.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.857-880
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• 2016

Due to an increasing number of cyberattacks globally, cybersecurity has become a crucial part of national security in many countries. In particular, the Digital Pearl Harbor has become a real and aggressive security threat, and is considered to be a global issue that can introduce instability to the dynamics of international security. Against this context, the cyberattacks that targeted nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the Republic of Korea triggered concerns regarding the potential effects of cyber terror on critical infrastructure protection (CIP), making it a new security threat to society. Thus, in an attempt to establish measures that strengthen CIP from a cybersecurity perspective, we perform a case study on the cyber-terror attacks that targeted the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. In order to fully appreciate the actual effects of cyber threats on critical infrastructure (CI), and to determine the challenges faced when responding to these threats, we examine factual relationships between the cyberattacks and their responses, and we perform analyses of the characteristics of the cyberattack under consideration. Moreover, we examine the significance of the event considering international norms, while applying the Tallinn Manual. Based on our analyses, we discuss implications for the cybersecurity of CI in South Korea, after which we propose a framework for strengthening cybersecurity in order to protect CI. Then, we discuss the direction of national policies.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.3319-3326
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• 2021

As a form of industrial control systems (ICS), nuclear instrumentation and control (I&C) systems have been digitalized increasingly. This has raised in turn cyber security concerns. Cyber security for ICS is important because cyber-attacks against ICS can cause not only equipment damage and loss of production but also personal and public safety hazards unlike in general IT environments. Numerous risk analyses have been carried out to enhance the safety of ICS and recently, many studies related to the cyber security of ICS are being conducted. Many existing risk analyses and cyber security studies have considered safety and cyber security separately. However, both safety and cyber security perspectives should be considered when analyzing risks for complex and critical ICS facilities such as nuclear power plants (NPPs). In this paper, the STPA-SafeSec methodology is selected to consider both safety and security perspectives when performing a risk analysis for NPPs in order to assess impacts on the safety by cyber-attacks against the digital I&C systems. The STPA-SafeSec methodology was applied to a test-bed system that simulates a condensate water (CD) system in an NPP. The process of the application up to the development of mitigation strategies is described in detail.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.3451-3457
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• 2010

Cyber security assessment is the process of determining how effectively an entity being assessed meets specific cyber security objectives. Cyber security assessment helps to measure the degree of confidence one has and to identify that the managerial, technical and operational measures work as intended to protect the I&C systems and the information it processes. Recently, needs for cyber security on digitalized nuclear I&C systems are increased. However the overall cyber security program, including cyber security assessment, is not established on those systems. This paper presents the methodology of cyber security assessment which is appropriate for nuclear I&C systems. This methodology provides the qualitative assessments that may formulate recommendations to bridge the security risk gap through the incorporated criteria. This methodology may be useful to the nuclear organizations for assessing the weakness and strength of cyber security on nuclear I&C systems. It may be useful as an index to the developers, auditors, and regulators for reviewing the managerial, operational and technical cyber security controls, also.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.264-266
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• 2015

Currently as cyber threats grow up targeting nuclear power plants(NPP), licensees must guarantee that computer and information systems of nuclear facilities can be adequately protected against cyber attack. Especially critical system that cause illegal transfer of nuclear material and adverse impact to public safety need protecting. In this paper, we surveying the cyber threat examples targeted at NPP, and taxonomy the method of cyber security for NPPs in korea through analyzing the methodology to identify critical system and address cyber security controls for nuclear facilities.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.363-374
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• 2015

Instrumentation and control(I&C) system has been mainly designed and operated based on analog technologies in existing Nuclear Power Plants(NPPs). However, As the development of Information Technology(IT), digital technologies are gradually being adopted in newly built NPPs. I&C System based on digital technologies has many advantages but it is vulnerable to cyber threat. For this reason, cyber threat adversely affects on safety and reliability of I&C system as well as the entire NPPs. Therefore, the software equipped to NPPs should be developed with cyber security attributes from the initiation phase of software development life cycle. Moreover through cyber security assessment, the degree of confidence concerning cyber security should be measured and if managerial, technical and operational work measures are implemented as intended should be reviewed in order to protect the I&C systems and information. Currently the overall cyber security program, including cyber security assessment, is not established on I&C systems. In this paper, we propose cyber security assessment methods in the Software Development Life Cycle by drawing cyber security activities and assessment items based on regulatory guides and standard technologies concerned with NPPs.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1425-1435
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• 2019

The expanded application of digital controls has raised the issue of cyber security for nuclear facilities. To cope with this, the cyber security technical standard RS-015 for Korean nuclear facilities requires nuclear system developers to apply security functions, analyze known vulnerabilities, and test and evaluate security functions. This requires the development of procedures and methods for testing the suitability of security functions in accordance with the nuclear cyber security technical standards. This study derived the security requirements required at the device level by classifying the details of the technical, operational and administrative security controls of RS-015 and developed procedures and methods to test whether the security functions implemented in the device meet the security requirements. This paper describes the process for developing security function compliance test procedures and methods and presents the developed test cases.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 2023

Only about 10% of selected equipment in nuclear power plants are monitored by wiring to address failures or problems caused by vibration. The purpose is primarily for preventive maintenance, not for predictive maintenance. This paper shows that vibration monitoring and diagnosis using Industrial 4.0 enables the complete predictive maintenance for all vibrating equipments in nuclear power plants with the convergence of internet of things; wireless technology, big data through periodic collection and artificial intelligence. Predictive maintenance using wireless technology is possible in all areas of nuclear power plants and in all systems, but it should satisfy regulatory guides on electromagnetic interference and cyber security.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.561-570
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• 2014

Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation and Control System(NPP I&C) which is used to operate safely is changing from analog technology to digital technology. Ever since NPP Centrifuge of Iran Bushehr was shut down by Stuxnet attack in 2010, the possibility of cyber attacks against the NPP has been increasing. However, the domestic and international regulatory guidelines that was published to strengthen the cyber security of the NPP I&C describes security requirements and method s to establish policies and procedures. These guidelines are not appropriate for the development of real applicable cyber security technology. Therefore, specialized cyber security technologies for the NPP I&C need to be developed to enhance the security of nuclear power plants. This paper proposes a cyber security technology development system which is exclusively for the development of nuclear technology. Furthermore, this method has been applied to the ESF-CCS developed by The KINCS R&D project.

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

The Nuclear Power Plants(: NPP) are being protected as national infrastructure, and instrumentation and control(: I&C) systems are one of the principle facilities of the NPP, which perform the protection, control, and monitoring function. The I&C systems are being evolved into digitalization based on computer and network technology from analog system. In addition, the I&C systems are mostly employ the specialized logic controllers which are dedicated for the NPP, but the usage of generalized IT resources are steadily increased. The cyber security issues for the NPP are being emerged due to cyber incidents by Stuxnet and various accidents in the NPP. In this paper, hybrid access control model is proposed which are applicable to I&C system by analyzing the access control requirements specified in regulatory guides. The safety of in-service and under construction of NPP are effectively increased by applying proposed hybrid model.