China rejects espionage allegations after PST operation in Norway

Chinese authorities reject the allegations after a Chinese woman was arrested in Norway, charged with assisting foreign intelligence activity. Norway's Police Security Service, PST, has carried out operations tied to properties on Andøya and at Otta. According to investigators, the case involves plans to install a large satellite receiver capable of downloading data from satellites in polar orbit. The woman remains in custody, while two further suspects are said to be outside Norway.

What this means for your organisation

The case is a reminder that intelligence interest in Norway is not only about network intrusion. Physical locations, property, leases and partners can all be part of the picture, particularly near the High North, space activity or critical infrastructure. For organisations in or around such environments, vetting partners and controlling who gets physical access is a security task, not an administrative formality.

Berigo recommends

• Review who has physical access to premises, rooftops, plant rooms and any antenna locations.
• Map ownership and control structures for partners and tenants connected to critical infrastructure.
• Establish a clear channel for reporting suspicious approaches or reconnaissance attempts to PST.
• Bring the state-actor threat into the board's understanding of risk, not just the technical risk assessment.

Source

• nrk.no