North Korea has pushed back against allegations of state-backed cybercrime, dismissing the claims as “absurd slander.”
The statement lands as blockchain investigators tie a growing share of major decentralized finance (DeFi) exploits to DPRK-backed actors.
North Korea Pushes Back on Cyber Threat Narrative
A Foreign Ministry spokesperson told the state-run Korean Central News Agency that US government bodies, media outlets, and affiliated organizations are promoting what they described as an “incorrect understanding of the DPRK.”
“Recently, the U.S. government organs, reptile media organs and plot-breeding organizations are trying to spread incorrect understanding of the DPRK to the international community, talking about the non-existent ‘cyber threat’ from the DPRK,” the spokesperson told KCNA.
The spokesperson argued it was “unreasonable” for Washington to claim victim status while controlling global IT infrastructure. The Foreign Ministry accused the United States of conducting indiscriminate cyber operations against other nations.
“One common point in their unilateral assertion is that all cyber-related frauds in different parts of the world are related to us and that the U.S. boasting of the world’s best cyber technical power is the world’s greatest victim,” the statement read.
According to the ministry, such accusations are part of a broader pattern of hostility toward the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, aimed at undermining its reputation for political purposes. The spokesperson also added that safeguarding cyberspace remains a consistent policy position for North Korea.
“The DPRK will never tolerate the hostile forces’ attempt at confrontation getting more undisguised in various domains including cyber space, but actively take all necessary measures for defending the interests of the state and protecting the rights and interests of its citizens,” the spokesperson added.
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Blockchain Forensics Tell a Different Story
Meanwhile, recent research highlights the scale of cyber activity attributed to North Korea-linked groups. A report by TRM Labs found that such actors were responsible for roughly 76% of crypto hack losses recorded in 2026 through April.
Two major incidents, the Drift and KelpDAO exploits, were attributed to separate groups. The combined losses were recorded at around $577 million. In 2025 alone, losses reached approximately $2.02 billion, including the Bybit hack.
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Separate research from the Ethereum Foundation-funded Ketman Project identified roughly 100 suspected DPRK IT workers across 53 crypto projects. The 6 month investigation flagged operatives using forged identities and AI-generated profiles to infiltrate Web3 firms.
Regulators have also stepped up enforcement. In March, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned six individuals and two entities tied to alleged North Korean IT worker schemes.
Thus, the contrasting data highlights a widening gap between Pyongyang’s official position and mounting international scrutiny over its alleged role in cyber-enabled financial crimes.
The post North Korea Calls Cyber Threat Allegations “Absurd Slander” as DPRK Hack Losses Mount appeared first on BeInCrypto.
