North Korea may be ramping up efforts to align itself with the BRICS economic bloc, as its top diplomat skipped the United Nations General Assembly in favor of a BRICS-related event. Analysts suggest that while Kim Jong-un seeks to break diplomatic isolation through such alliances, North Korea’s sanctions and economic constraints make membership unlikely. Recent…
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The United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) held their third Trilateral Diplomatic Working Group meeting on Friday in Seoul to address North Korean cyber threats. Led by U.S. Deputy Special Representative Seth Bailey, ROK’s Lee Jun-il, and Japan’s Kumagai Naoki, the meeting focused on North Korea’s cyber activities, including revenue generation through…
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The FBI has issued a new warning about North Korea’s cyber campaigns targeting the cryptocurrency sector. The agency highlighted the use of sophisticated, hard-to-detect social engineering tactics to deploy malware and steal digital assets. North Korean hackers are reportedly focusing on decentralized finance (defi) platforms and cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs). FBI Warns of North Korean…
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Microsoft recently detected a North Korean cyber group, Citrine Sleet, exploiting a security vulnerability in Chromium-based browsers, including Google Chrome. This flaw allowed attackers to execute malicious code on compromised devices. Citrine Sleet used advanced tactics, such as fake cryptocurrency websites, to conduct their attacks. North Korean Cyber Group Citrine Sleet Exploits Chromium Zero-Day Vulnerability…
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The U.S. Department of State and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-hosted a symposium in New York City on Tuesday, focusing on protecting the virtual asset industry from exploitation by North Korea (DPRK) and disrupting its revenue generation. The event aimed to curb DPRK’s efforts to fund its weapons of mass destruction…
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A grand jury in Kansas City indicted North Korean national Rim Jong Hyok for his role in a conspiracy involving ransomware attacks on U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers. The group laundered cryptocurrency proceeds and used the funds for further cyber intrusions into global defense, technology, and government entities. The ransomware attacks disrupted patient care and…
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The North Korean Lazarus Group allegedly laundered $200 million worth of crypto into fiat currency between August 2020 and October 2023, according to an April 29 investigative report by crypto sleuth ZachXBT. The investigation examined over 25 exploits across various blockchains and traced illicitly gained funds through mixers, peer-to-peer marketplaces, and centralized exchanges to show…
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North Korea’s state-sponsored hacking collective Lazarus group is reportedly targeting LinkedIn users in the digital asset industry as part of its latest crypto hacking malware attempt, blockchain security firm SlowMist alleged on April 24. “The Lazarus Group is currently contacting cryptocurrency industry targets through LinkedIn and stealing employee privileges or assets through malware,” SlowMist posted…
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A report issued by a United Nations panel of experts has concluded that cyber crypto heists have provided 50% of the foreign currency income for North Korea since 2017. The report indicated that North Korean actors have been linked to 17 theft and hack events involving over $750 million in 2023 alone, and details several…
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After sanctions were imposed on Tornado Cash and Sinbad was shut down following similar actions against the platform, , a Bitcoin mixer, has stepped in as an alternative for the North Korean Lazarus Group Recent discoveries by the blockchain analysis firm show that a wallet linked to North Korean hacking operations received funds from YoMix, whereas…
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