Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large crowds gather in Khan Younis to welcome the liberated Palestinian detainees, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in celebration
Buses of released prisoners arrive in Ramallah
Israeli media: Netanyahu gifts Trump a "Golden Dove".
Israeli media: Netanyahu will take part in Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.
Trump's Air Force One lands in Tel Aviv

Seoul claims DPRK hackers stole $1.2bln in attacks

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Dec 2022 00:17
3 Min Read

South Korea claims that hackers from the DPRK stole more than $1.2 billion in cyberattacks on the country since the start of the year.

  • x
  • Photo Illustration by Emil Lendof (The Daily Beast)
    Photo Illustration by Emil Lendof (The Daily Beast)

Hackers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have stolen over 1.5 trillion won ($1.2 billion) worth of bitcoin and other virtual assets over the previous five years, South Korea's intelligence service claimed on Friday, further alleging that more than half of the attacks in question took place this year.

South Korean officials say that the DPRK, in light of the UN sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, has become reliable on crypto hacking and other operations carried out in cyberspace to fund its economy that has been hit by sanctions from all sides.

The DPRK has focused on cybercrime since the UN tightened its sanctions in 2017 in response to its nuclear and missile tests, according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), making Pyongyang, according to South Korean data, one of the best at stealing digital assets.

The UN sanctions imposed on the Korean people back in 2016-2017 banned important exports from the DPRK, such as coal, textiles, and seafood, and forced member nations to deport DPRK citizens who had been working abroad. After enacting highly strict restrictions to combat the spread of COVID-19, the DPRK's economy experienced significant blows.

The NIS then claimed that so-called "state-sponsored" hackers from the DPRK have so hacked their way through $1.5 trillion won ($1.2 billion) worth of virtual assets worldwide since 2017, including $800 billion ($626 million) just this year. Reportedly, South Korea contributed more than 100 billion won ($78 million) of the total.

South Korean officials are expecting DPRK hackers to conduct more cyberattacks in the coming year with the aim of taking technologies and confidential information from the South regarding their foreign policy and national security.

Related News

US Defense firm unveils X-MAV mobile Tomahawk launcher

US condemns China over alleged Ramming of ship in disputed waters

Senior US, South Korean, and Japanese officials agreed earlier in the month to up their efforts in a bid to curb DPRK cyber activities.

In February, a panel of United Nations specialists stated that the DPRK was still stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from financial institutions, cryptocurrency businesses, and exchanges.

This comes as the latest multimillion-dollar cyber heist in DeFi - or decentralized finance - after $625 million were stolen from Ronin Network in March in a hack with the US blamed on the DPRK.

According to Wintermute CEO Evgeny Gaevoy, the cryptocurrency company has "been hacked for about $160 million" just three months ago.

In addition, Nomad, another company, also recently said hackers stole almost $200 million in assets.

Wintermute functions as a "market marker" for crypto, holding a large inventory of a particular asset to keep the market liquid by ensuring users that there are people to trade with.

Gaevoy revealed that of the 90 assets that were stolen, only 2 had a value of a million dollars. He made no mention of which tokens were stolen, saying: "We will communicate with both affected teams asap."

  • United States
  • Japan
  • DPRK
  • United Nations
  • South Korea

Most Read

The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect amid conflicting signals and bombings

Gaza ceasefire takes effect; 'Israel' resumes bombing, timing disputed

  • Politics
  • 9 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Freed Palestinian prisoners carry rifles as they arrive in the Gaza Strip following their release from Israeli jails, outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian resistance remains steadfast, victorious Larijani says

Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Laffan inspecting the command structure of the 10th Infantry Brigade in Kfarskhna-Zgharta on October 13, 2025. (Lebanonese Army)
Politics

Lebanese Army chief: Israeli aggression threatens Lebanon's security

Hamas fighters escort buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners arriving in the Gaza Strip after their release from Israeli jails, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, October 13, 2025 (AP)
Politics

154 Palestinian prisoners exiled to Egypt under exchange deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives before US President Donald Trump addresses the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, October 13, 2025 in Occupied Al-Quds. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Politics

Netanyahu withdraws from Sharm el-Sheikh summit amid regional pushback

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS