North Korea’s economy has been ravaged by United Nations sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic. And yet the country has conducted more missile tests this year than in any previous year.
North Korea barely has enough electricity to run elevators in the capital city, Pyongyang, and most people do not have computers, much less access to the internet. Yet the country has long been home to many of the world’s savviest and most aggressive hackers.
Talented students are carefully screened and groomed from an early age. The best of them join the hacker training programs at the Moranbong University, run by the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea’s main spy agency, or at the military-run Mirim College, according to South Korean officials. After graduation, most are assigned to the Reconnaissance General Bureau’s cyberwarfare arm, Department 121.
“You are mistaken if you think they will have moral compunction for attacking somebody else’s network,” Jang Se-iul, a graduate of Mirim College who served as an officer in the North Korean military before defecting to South Korea in 2008, said in an interview. “To them, cyberspace is a battlefield and they are fighting enemies out there hurting their country.”
“Make no mistake: DPRK hackers are really good,” said Eric Penton-Voak, a coordinator at the U.N. panel of experts, during a webinar in April, using the acronym of North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. “They look at really interesting and very gray, new areas of cryptocurrency because actually, A, no one really understands them, and B, they can exploit weakness.”
The final step is turning the crypto into cash. Generally, North Korea uses offshore exchanges, converting the stolen cryptocurrency into renminbi. “They’ve cashed out a large percentage of the funds they’ve stolen,” Plante said. “It’s a really powerful tool for them in evading sanctions.” “The entire industry is going to have to face the music here sooner or later,” Larsen said, adding that the attack on his company by North Korean hackers should serve as “a wake-up call” for the industry as it contends with mounting security threats.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
North Korean streets flooded as heavy rains exacerbate economic crisisNorth Korean towns along the border with China were flooded this week after heavy rain, threatening to exacerbate an already critical food and economic situation in the country.
Read more »
The iPalpiti Festival is a musical United NationsThe 25th season will showcase young classical artists from at least 16 countries in Encinitas, La Jolla and Los Angeles
Read more »
Video shows moment plane makes emergency landing on North Carolina highwayAn incredible video shows a small plane landing on a highway in western North Carolina Sunday morning.
Read more »
North Texas city begins offering free medical and dental services to residentsA small town on the edge of the DFW area is set to offer free basic healthcare to anyone who lives there. Before that takes effect, residents got access to free medical screenings and dental services on Friday.
Read more »
Kim Kardashian explains why North held ‘Stop’ sign at Paris Fashion Week | Page Six Celebrity NewsNo pictures, please!Kim Kardashian’s daughter North asked photographers to “stop” taking pictures of her during the Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Fall/Win...
Read more »
Kim Kardashian Explains Why North West Held Up a Sign That Said “Stop” During Fashion WeekKim Kardashian on Why North West Held Up a Sign That Said “Stop”
Read more »