Cyber Heists Fund North Korea’s Weapons Program

According
to
a
United
Nations
Security
Council
investigation,
half
of
North
Korea’s
foreign
currency
earnings
come
from
cyberattacks
on
cryptocurrency
exchanges.
The
losses
amounting
to
about
3
billion
dollars
indicate
that
the
country
relies
heavily
on
cybercrime.

From
July
2023
to
January
2024,
researchers
looked
into
how
North
Korea
bypasses
international
sanctions
and
discovered
its
sophisticated
techniques
for
avoiding
global
restrictions.
A
report
like
this
one
may
not
be
legally
binding
but
it
can
be
a
basis
for
imposing
new
restrictions
on
violators.

Almost
forty
percent
(40%)
of
the
money
used
by
the
government
for
weapons
of
mass
destruction
is
obtained
through
online
crimes.
The
survey
points
out
that
more
hacks
against
defence
sector
firms
are
occurring
and
North
Korean
hackers
seem
to
share
resources
more
openly
with
each
other
than
before.
Additionally,
there
are
assertions
that
Hamas
employs
DPRK
arms
including
missiles
and
anti-tank
weaponry;
these
have
been
refuted
by
Pyongyang.

North
Korea
Still
Fires
Missiles
While
Breaking
Sanctions

Within
six
months
preceding
January
2024,
about
seven
ballistic
missiles
were
launched
by
North
Korea.
Japan
raised
concerns
among
global
communities
after
reporting
another
“tactical
nuclear
attack
submarine”
originating
from
North
Korea.

In
spite
of
worldwide
economic
sanctions
aimed
at
stopping
its
atomic
activities,
Pyongyang
has
engaged
in
illicit
transactions.
It
imported
refined
petrol
products
and
exported
luxury
goods
throughout
2023
thereby
increasing
its
trade
levels
beyond
previous
years’
records.

The
report
also
highlights
that
even
as
North
Korea
seeks
alternative
ways
to
bankroll
its
armament
programs
it
poses
challenges
towards
curbing
their
nuclear
ambitions.
However,
as
part
of
what
results
from
cyber
heists,
there
is
an
international
community
that
is
still
on
high
alert
with
regard
to
North
Korea’s
military
capabilities
being
enhanced.