North Korea stole record crypto assets in 2022, UN report says

North Korea stole more cryptocurrency assets in 2022 than in any other year so far, per a confidential United Nations report seen by Reuters.

The hackers targeted defense companies and foreign aerospace networks using vastly sophisticated cyber techniques “to gain access to digital networks involved in cyber finance, and to steal information of potential value, including to its weapons programmes,” the UN Security Council committee was told by independent sanctions monitors.

The hackers stole nearly $630 million, says the sanction monitors. But per a cybersecurity firm, more than $1 billion worth of cryptocurrencies have been stolen and a US-based blockchain analytics firm backed it.

The report claims the stolen digital assets are used by North Korea to fund its weapons program.