North Korea Calls Crypto Hacking Accusations 'Absurd Slander'

The North Korean government has dismissed accusations of its involvement in cryptocurrency thefts, labeling them as "absurd slander" and a tactic used by the United States to promote a "hostile policy" against the country, according to the state-run KCNA news agency.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry criticized the U.S. for portraying itself as the "main victim" despite its advanced cyber capabilities. They emphasized North Korea's commitment to safeguarding cyberspace from malicious activities and condemned the use of cyber issues for political manipulation.

"Our principled position is to protect cyberspace, a common heritage of humanity, from any malicious actions..." the spokesperson stated.

Recent Cyber Theft Statistics

In a related context, TRM Labs reported that hackers linked to North Korea stole an estimated $577 million in the first four months of 2026, representing 76% of total losses in cryptocurrency projects during that timeframe. This marks a significant increase in the proportion of stolen digital assets attributed to North Korea, rising from less than 10% in 2020-2021 to 64% in 2025, with total losses exceeding $6 billion.

Key incidents contributing to these losses include two significant attacks in April: the Kelp hack, which resulted in $292 million in stolen funds linked to the TraderTraitor group associated with the Lazarus group, and the Drift exploit, accounting for $285 million, which is still under verification for its North Korean connections.

The United Nations has indicated that North Korea is utilizing these stolen funds to further its nuclear weapons development programs. Researchers have consistently reported on North Korean hackers infiltrating cryptocurrency projects, with one Ethereum Foundation fellow identifying 100 North Korean IT agents operating within Web3 companies. Additionally, on-chain investigator ZachXBT has uncovered a network of developers tied to North Korea in the crypto sector.