North Korea Rejects FBIs Crypto Theft Allegations as Political Conspiracy

Seoul, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : North Korea has vehemently rejected the findings of an FBI investigation that implicated it in a massive cryptocurrency theft from Binance, the world’s largest exchange. The North Korean regime described the allegations as a political conspiracy and an inflammatory act.

Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, responded to the FBI’s statement, which claimed that the theft of over $6 billion in cryptocurrency was orchestrated by the North Korean government. The FBI linked the incident to a hacking group known as “Trader Traitor,” previously associated with other cryptocurrency heists.

In a statement published by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim accused the FBI of attempting to label North Korea (DPRK) as a “cybercriminal nation.” She criticized the claim that a hacking organization supported by North Korea was involved in the incident.

The statement asserted, “This is a serious political conspiracy against North Korea. The United States is misleading the world into believing that all cyber crimes occurring globally are orchestrated by us.”

While North Korea has faced accusations of cyber theft in the past, it has consistently denied any involvement. Kim’s public remarks on hacking incidents are rare, indicating the seriousness with which the regime views these allegations.

She characterized Washington’s accusations as a “malicious” attempt to undermine North Korea’s international image, dignity, and national prestige. Additionally, she condemned the claims as a severe violation of North Korea’s sovereignty in cyberspace.

Redirecting the blame back to Washington, Kim noted that the current U.S. administration had announced plans to seize illegally stolen cryptocurrency and use it as part of the nation’s strategic reserves. She suggested that examining who ultimately benefits from the so-called stolen cryptocurrency could provide clues about the true perpetrators behind the hacking.

Kim warned that North Korea is closely monitoring ongoing provocations from the U.S. “Given America’s irresponsible and hostile behavior, we need to reconsider our approach on multiple fronts,” she stated.

A senior official from South Korea’s unification ministry remarked that this was Kim’s first statement regarding the cyber hacking allegations against North Korea. The official noted that the regime appears to be taking the matter seriously, especially given the international ramifications following the Binance hacking incident.

Historically, North Korea has typically responded to such accusations through its foreign ministry. However, the regime’s concern about its international image, as it seeks to present itself as a “normal country,” is evident in this response.

This statement is seen as an effort to prevent North Korea’s cyber activities from becoming a global issue while simultaneously applying pressure on the U.S. to abandon what Pyongyang views as a “hostile policy.”

It remains uncertain how these hacking allegations will affect potential summit talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, as there has been no response from North Korea regarding Trump’s repeated overtures to resume dialogue.