Why Is North Korea So Interested in Bitcoin?
Contents
Why Is North Korea So Interested in Bitcoin?
In 2016 we began observing actors we believe to be North Korean utilizing their intrusion capabilities to conduct cyber crime, targeting banks and the global financial system. This marked a departure from previously observed activity of North Korean actors employing cyber espionage for traditional nation state activities. Yet, given North Korea's position as a pariah nation cut off from much of the global economy – as well as a nation that employs a government bureau to conduct illicit economic activity – this is not all that surprising. With North Korea's tight control of its- military and intelligence capabilities It is likely that this activity was carried out to fund the state or personal coffers of Pyongyang's elite, as international sanctions have constricted the Hermit Kingdom.
Now, we may be witnessing a second wave of this campaign: state-sponsored actors seeking to steal bitcoin and other …
In 2016 we began observing actors we believe to be North Korean utilizing their intrusion capabilities to conduct cyber crime, targeting banks and the global financial system. This marked a departure from previously observed activity of North Korean actors employing cyber espionage for traditional nation state activities. Yet, given North Korea's position as a pariah nation cut off from much of the global economy – as well as a nation that employs a government bureau to conduct illicit economic activity – this is not all that surprising. With North Korea's tight control of its- military and intelligence capabilities It is likely that this activity was carried out to fund the state or personal coffers of Pyongyang's elite, as international sanctions have constricted the Hermit Kingdom.
Now, we may be witnessing a second wave of this campaign: state-sponsored actors seeking to steal bitcoin and other …