ANKARA 

South Korea's spy agency on Monday claimed it has identified 38 “fake” Korean-language news websites allegedly operated by Chinese companies to influence public opinion in favor of China and against the US.

According to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), at least two Chinese public relations companies have created “fake” Korean news websites to post articles from local news outlets “without consent,” Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.

The firms in question, according to NIS, posed themselves as members of Korea’s Digital News Association.

Another unidentified organization has also allegedly tried to influence public opinion by distributing pro-China and anti-US content through the websites and a Seoul-based press release distributing agency.

The NIS said it would shut down the “fake” news sites in cooperation with other related government agencies and “keep a close watch on China's activities aimed at expanding its cyber influence in South Korea."