Seoul: North Korean hackers stole $1.2B in virtual assets
An image of a hacker trying to hack with a cell phone. Gettyimagesbank
North Korean hackers have stolen an estimated 1.5 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in cryptocurrency and other virtual assets in the past five years, more than half of it this year alone, South Korea's spy agency said Thursday.
Experts and officials say North Korea has turned to crypto hacking and other illicit cyber activities as a source of badly needed foreign currency to support its fragile economy and fund its nuclear program following harsh U.N. sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Korea's main spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, said North Korea's capacity to steal digital assets is considered among the best in the world because of the country's focus on cybercrimes since U.N. economic sanctions were toughened in 2017 in response to its nuclear and missile tests.
The U.N. sanctions imposed in 2016-17 ban key North Korean exports such as coal, textiles and seafood and also led member states to repatriate North Korean overseas workers. Its economy suffered further setbacks after it imposed some of the world's most draconian restrictions against the pandemic.
The NIS said state-sponsored North Korean hackers are estimated to have stolen 1.5 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in virtual assets around the world since 2017, including about 800 billion this year alone. It said more than 100 billion won ($78 million) of the total came from South Korea.
It said North Korean hackers are expected to conduct more cyberattacks next year to steal advanced South Korean technologies and confidential information on South Korean foreign policy and national security.
Earlier this month, senior diplomats from the United States, South Korea and Japan agreed to increase efforts to curb illegal North Korean cyber activities. In February, a panel of U.N. experts said North Korea was continuing to steal hundreds of millions of dollars from financial institutions and cryptocurrency firms and exchanges.
Despite its economic difficulties, North Korea has carried out a record number or missile tests this year in what some experts say is an attempt to modernize its arsenal and boost its leverage in future negotiations with its rivals to win sanctions relief and other concessions. (AP)
相关推荐
-
The Eyes of Lacy
-
Most watched TV shows streaming this week. Yes, including 'Better Call Saul'.
-
I tried TikTok's viral lettuce water sleep aid. It was kind of gross and I slept horribly.
-
New Zealand, S. Korean police track mother of children found in suitcases
-
蒙顶山茶有了专属茶器
-
Wood wants New Zealand coach Hay to stay
- 最近发表
-
- 14 Heists, Robberies, and Other Great Capers
- How to Boot to BIOS in Windows 11
- 超八成养猪股2023年亏损
- Record five Asians make Internationals line
- 味道真系正!怀集食材邂逅顺德厨艺
- Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger are back after 'technical issue'
- WhatsApp testing hiding 'last seen' status from specific contacts
- North Korea urges US to revive summit
- Number Representations in Computer Hardware
- The Sims: 22 Years and Counting
- 随机阅读
-
- Best smart home deals this week
- Compensate migrant workers: WC fans
- Grealish, Haaland destroy Wolves
- Inam shocked by Ali’s doping news
- DOJ accuses TikTok of collecting and sharing users' personal views, as the app fights a ban
- David Holmes confirms Trump asked about Ukraine investigation.
- Summer TV preview: 11 shows we can't wait to watch
- Dealmaker Trump takes page from own playbook and walks away
- I went to an offline dating event for singles. Here's how it went.
- Cloud Storage Basics: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and More Compared
- The biggest different between the impeachment of Trump and Watergate.
- Spurs stars aren't 'undroppable’, warns Conte
- 22 Unusual Things You Can Find in the Desert
- Shahzaib beats Indian rival to win Taekwondo gold in Nepal
- Leao absence leaves Milan searching for solutions
- ‘Doctor of Korean Medicine’: Does this title confuse you?
- Blinken condemns Russia
- Cloud Storage Basics: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and More Compared
- Shahzaib beats Indian rival to win Taekwondo gold in Nepal
- 夹金山中何所有 宝藏兴焉多异兽(上)
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-