According to UN experts, North Korean hackers steal record-breaking virtual assets in 2022

According to a report, on Wednesday, February 8, UN specialists asserted in a recent assessment that North Korean government-affiliated hackers stole record-breaking virtual assets valued between $630 million and more than $1 billion in 2022. According to the research, hackers are using more advanced techniques than ever to hack into digital financial networks and steal information from businesses, governments, and ordinary people that could be useful for North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development. The experts point out that by producing additional nuclear material and expanding its ballistic missile program, the nation continues to violate UN sanctions. Eight intercontinental ballistic missiles were among the 73 ballistic missiles and missiles with ballistic and guidance technology that North Korea is expected to launch in 2022, according to the panel (ICBM). [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Image credit– Queen City News[/caption] 42 launches were also conducted in the final four months of 2022, including testing of a supposedly innovative ICBM design and a new solid-fueled ICBM engine. According to research by an unnamed cybersecurity firm, North Korea's cybercrime resulted in virtual assets worth more than $1 billion, which is more than double the total assets in 2021. The three organizations that constitute the Reconnaissance General Bureau, the nation's primary foreign intelligence agency, continued to target victims in order to generate income and gather crucial information for North Korea's weapons programs, according to the experts. Also read: South Korea views the defense sector as a “new growth engine” The Lazarus Group, Kimsuky, and Andariel were the three organizations named in the report. Between February and July 2022, The Lazarus Group allegedly targeted energy businesses in a number of member states, exploiting a weakness to install malware and access their data. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Image credit- Tech Times[/caption] It "aligns with prior Lazarus incursions targeting vital infrastructure and energy businesses... to siphon off proprietary intellectual property," according to the assessment, as reported. The UN revelation comes after South Korea's spy agency claimed in December that North Korean hackers had stolen over 1.5 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in virtual assets over the previous five years, including bitcoin. According to South Korea's spy service, the National Intelligence Service, the sanctioned nation has allegedly turned to cybercrime after the UN increased economic sanctions in 2017 due to its nuclear and missile tests (NIS). North Korea was not allowed to export any goods from 2016 to 2017 due to UN sanctions, including textiles, coal, and many others. Additionally, it urged member governments to repatriate North Koreans who were employed abroad. According to the NIS, state-sponsored hackers from North Korea have stolen virtual assets worth $1.2 billion ($1.5 trillion) worldwide since 2017, including $800 billion ($626 million) in 2022 alone.