North Korea steps up ‘persistent, opportunistic’ cybercrime to fund nuclear programmes

Pyongyang’s cyber operations are a strategic approach to circumvent international sanctions and resist pressure on the regime, say analysts

‘Whole-of-government’ collaboration across nations is required to counter North Korea’s ‘sophisticated’ cybercrime that funds its nuclear ambitions

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People in Seoul watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test on April 13, 2023. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:30pm, 16 May 2023Updated: 6:47pm, 16 May 2023

As international sanctions and the Covid-19 border lockdown continue to impact North Korea, the regime has increasingly engaged in cyber-operations, raiding cryptocurrency exchanges in recent years to fund its nuclear and missile programmes.

Analysts argue that these cyber operations are a strategic approach to circumvent international sanctions and resist global pressure on the regime.

During an event hosted by the non-profit Special Competitive Studies Project last week, Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology for the Biden administration, said “about half of North Korea’s missile programme had been funded by cyberattacks and cryptocurrency theft”.

She also said US intelligence agencies were working to identify North Korean operatives and that the US Treasury was tracing stolen cryptocurrency.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits a hall displayed what appeared to be various types of warheads designed to be mounted on missiles or rocket launchers on March 27, 2023. Photo: via AP

Pyongyang’s cyberattacks have become a grave threat to Seoul and Washington, with North Korea intensifying its nuclear and missile programmes in recent years.

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