Dozens of North Korean cyber attacks have netted about $3 billion to further develop the country’s nuclear weapons programme, according to a United Nations study. These attacks mainly targeted crypto companies between 2017 and 2023.
The financial gains from cyber attacks not only provide North Korea with the means to fund its nuclear ambitions, but also highlight the growing threat of cybercrime as a tool for state funding.
North Korean hacker groups, subordinate to Pyongyang’s main foreign intelligence agency, have reportedly carried out a large number of cyber attacks, including targeting defense companies and their supply chains.
Despite international sanctions, North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear arsenal, produced nuclear fissile material, launched ballistic missiles, orbited a satellite and added a “tactical nuclear attack submarine” to its arsenal.
North Korea’s targeted attacks on the defense industry and sharing of infrastructure and tools indicate a sophisticated approach to cyber warfare.
The estimated $3 billion in cybercrime revenues underscores the significant contribution of these activities to North Korea’s weapons programmes.
North Korea has been subject to UN sanctions aimed at cutting off funding for the development of weapons of mass destruction since 2006. The UN Security Council has repeatedly tried to strengthen sanctions but faces geopolitical challenges and contradictions, especially from China and Russia.
Deeper military relations between Moscow and Pyongyang, along with allegations of arms deliveries to Russia for the conflict in Ukraine, highlight difficulties in reaching consensus on measures against North Korea.
Despite strict lockdowns during the pandemic that drastically reduced trade and aid, North Korea has seen its economic activity recover over the past year, with increased trade and the return of a variety of foreign consumer goods, including luxury items.
News Wires
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