Seoul raises alert against Pyongyang cyber attack

South Korea has boosted its military information surveillance status in response to alleged threats of cyber attacks by North Korea, media reports said on Sunday.

South Korea's Information Operations Condition (INFOCON), a five-tier threat level system used by the country's military to defend against cyber attacks, was raised to Level 3.

"We believe there's a larger possibility that North Korea may launch cyber attacks on the South, and recently upgraded our Information Operation Condition," a military official said.

The INFOCON was earlier upgraded from Level 5 to Level 4 following Pyongyang's nuclear test last month, EFE news reported.

Reports of the latest upgrade come one week after North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket carrying a satellite into space.

The action has been interpreted by much of the international community as a disguised ballistic missile test.