North Korea Denies US Cybercrime Allegations, Calls Claims ‘Absurd Slander’

North Korea has firmly rejected accusations from the United States regarding its alleged involvement in international cybercrimes, dismissing them as “absurd slander” designed to tarnish the nation’s image, according to state media KCNA.

The strongly-worded denial comes amid growing international concern about North Korea’s digital operations. A United Nations panel recently estimated that North Korean-linked hackers have stolen more than $3 billion (€2.56 billion) in cryptocurrency since 2017, with intelligence agencies believing these funds directly support Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

“This is nothing but an absurd slander to tarnish the image of our country by spreading false information in pursuit of political purposes,” a North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement. The official added that the United States was fabricating claims about a “non-existent cyber threat” to justify its hostile policies toward North Korea.

The spokesperson warned that Pyongyang would take necessary steps to defend its interests in cyberspace, signaling potential continued activity in the digital realm despite international condemnation.

North Korea’s digital operations have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, earning the country the dubious distinction of being labeled “the world’s most prolific cyber-thief” by cybersecurity experts. These operations represent a significant revenue stream for a regime struggling under the weight of international sanctions designed to curb its nuclear ambitions.

The United States has accused North Korea of employing multiple strategies to circumvent sanctions, including deploying overseas IT worker networks, conducting sophisticated hacking operations, and engaging in cryptocurrency theft. These activities allegedly generate crucial revenue for the isolated nation’s weapons development programs.

In April, the U.S. Justice Department highlighted the seriousness of these operations when it sentenced two American citizens for aiding North Koreans in securing remote IT positions with U.S. companies. According to officials, the scheme targeted over 100 firms over several years, including Fortune 500 companies and a defense contractor.

This operation was particularly concerning to security experts as it potentially placed North Korean workers inside American corporate systems, creating opportunities for espionage and data theft beyond simple financial gain.

Cybersecurity professionals and analysts at Google also reported in April that hackers linked to North Korea were the prime suspects in an attack targeting a widely used software package, demonstrating the breadth of Pyongyang’s digital operations.

North Korea’s cyber capabilities have evolved significantly over the past decade, with the country investing heavily in training elite hackers and developing sophisticated digital warfare capabilities. Experts believe these operations provide crucial hard currency for the regime, which faces severe limitations on traditional trade and banking due to international sanctions.

The country’s cyber operations typically target financial institutions, cryptocurrency exchanges, and businesses across multiple continents. Security researchers have documented North Korean-linked groups operating under various names, including Lazarus Group and APT38, conducting increasingly complex attacks.

For North Korea, cybercrime offers several advantages over traditional revenue-generating activities. Digital operations are relatively low-cost, can be conducted remotely from within the country’s borders, and often prove difficult to attribute with absolute certainty—allowing the regime plausible deniability.

Despite Pyongyang’s denials, the evidence assembled by international investigators, cybersecurity firms, and intelligence agencies points to a sustained pattern of North Korean involvement in digital theft and espionage. The regime’s latest rejection of these accusations appears unlikely to change the international consensus regarding its cyber activities.

As tensions continue between North Korea and the international community over its nuclear program and human rights record, the digital domain has emerged as yet another battleground in this complex geopolitical relationship.