In May 2023, Binance reported a $6 billion cryptocurrency heist, prompting the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to attribute it to North Korean hackers linked to the TraderTraitor group, which had previously targeted Bybit. The FBI’s claim, released on May 23, accused the group of exploiting vulnerabilities to steal funds, with analysts noting North Korea’s broader pattern of cybercrime—including attacks on Sony Pictures and WannaCry—to fund its nuclear and weapons programs. South Korea’s spy agency later estimated North Korean cyber thefts totaled $1.1 billion over five years, highlighting the regime’s growing dependence on illicit digital revenue streams amid international sanctions.
North Korea’s state media, through Kim Yo Jong, dismissed the allegations as 'absurd rhetoric' and 'a trite provocation,' accusing the U.S. of repeatedly linking Pyongyang to cyber incidents. Kim Yo Jong stated, 'The US assertion is absurd rhetoric and nothing new,' arguing that Washington’s claims were designed to mislead international opinion about North Korea’s cyber activities. While the FBI’s attribution remains unchallenged by independent verification, Pyongyang continues to deny involvement, framing the dispute as a political provocation against its sovereignty.
North Korea’s state media, through Kim Yo Jong, dismissed the allegations as 'absurd rhetoric' and 'a trite provocation,' accusing the U.