U.S., South Korea, Japan and North Korea express concern over ‘malicious’ cyber activities

SEOUL: In comments released in a joint statement on Friday (April 7), the United States, South Korea and Japan expressed deep concern over “malicious” cyber activities to support North Korea’s weapons program.

Cryptocurrency funds stolen by North Korean hackers have been a key source of funding for weapons programs in sanctioned countries, officials and experts from the three countries said.

According to a statement using an abbreviation of North Korea’s official name, we express concern that North Korean IT workers abroad continue to use forged identities and nationalities to evade UN sanctions and raise funds for missile programs.

“We are also deeply concerned about the way North Korea supports these programs by collecting information, stealing and laundering funds through malicious cyber activity.”

South Korea’s nuclear envoy met with US and Japanese counterparts in Seoul earlier this week to condemn North Korea’s weapons tests.