North Korea’s foreign ministry dismissed American allegations of cyber threats on Sunday, labeling the accusations as fabricated claims designed to justify Washington’s hostile policies, according to state media KCNA reports from Seoul.
A ministry representative stated that the United States was distributing misleading information regarding a “non-existent ‘cyber threat’” from North Korea for political motives, characterizing the allegations as “nothing but an absurd slander to tarnish the image of our country.”
The representative cautioned that Pyongyang would proactively implement all required actions to defend state interests and safeguard citizens’ rights in the digital realm, KCNA reported.
American officials have consistently blamed North Korea for government-backed cyber operations, including computer intrusions, digital currency theft, and networks of international IT personnel used to fund weapons programs.
This past March, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned six people and two organizations connected to North Korean IT worker schemes, stating they assisted in funneling illegal profits through cryptocurrency. American authorities indicated these operations continue today.
The Treasury and State Department had previously imposed sanctions in July targeting North Korean cyber operatives and international enablers, claiming Pyongyang sends thousands of IT workers overseas and employs cyber theft to finance missile and nuclear programs.
The U.S. Justice Department and FBI have also cautioned that North Korean hacking groups represent an ongoing danger to governments, corporations, and vital infrastructure globally.
