Carding Forum
Professional
Talented children are selected for special programs, not taking into account their origin, but only their abilities.
According to the latest data, the number of cybercrime specialists in North Korea is about 8,400, which is 20% more than two years ago. This is reported by the South Korean edition of Donga Ilbo with reference to the South Korean National Intelligence Institute. The Defense White Paper 2022 of the Ministry of Defense of South Korea indicated that in 2016 the number of such specialists was 6800 people. The sharp increase in the number of cybercriminals is caused by the active development of cyber technologies and an increase in the number of attacks.
South Korean authorities have expressed concern about the active development of cybercrime in North Korea. Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, also actively encourages the development of hacking skills among the country's citizens, offering monetary rewards. In the face of increased sanctions and economic difficulties, the country is actually putting all its efforts on the line to achieve success in cyber attacks in order to gain financial and technological benefits. It is reported that Kim Jong-un personally orders to expand cyber operations and improve the skills of hackers, offering them significant monetary rewards.
Intelligence sources estimate that the number of cyber specialists in North Korea may continue to grow. Information technology specialists are actively involved in software development with malicious code and theft of virtual assets. Over time, the methods and targets of North Korea's hacking attacks are becoming more diverse and audacious. Under Kim Jong-un's leadership, the country is focusing significant resources on training hackers, opening specialized training facilities.
The South Korean Intelligence Agency also notes that North Korea runs its own university, which is part of the intelligence agency's structure, where cybercriminals are trained. In 2009, Kim Jong-un united various units engaged in sabotage activities against South Korea, creating a single intelligence directorate. This key body reports directly to Kim Jong-un and receives direct instructions from him.
In 2023, Kim Jong-un issued a decree according to which the selection of candidates for hackers should not take into account their origin, but focus solely on their abilities. This decision demonstrates the high importance that the North Korean leadership attaches to the development of cybercrime as a source of financial profit.
The most talented graduates of North Korean hacker training institutions go on internships at foreign universities or take short-term courses in the country. They acquire practical skills, which they then apply as part of hacker groups such as Lazarus and Kimsuky, which carry out cyber attacks to support the nuclear program and strengthen the regime.
Kim Jong-un already in 2013 called cyberwar a "universal sword", comparable in importance to the country's nuclear and missile potential. Since then, training hackers has become a priority for the state. North Korea is actively strengthening its cybercrime infrastructure by importing high-performance computers and other technological tools.
Source
According to the latest data, the number of cybercrime specialists in North Korea is about 8,400, which is 20% more than two years ago. This is reported by the South Korean edition of Donga Ilbo with reference to the South Korean National Intelligence Institute. The Defense White Paper 2022 of the Ministry of Defense of South Korea indicated that in 2016 the number of such specialists was 6800 people. The sharp increase in the number of cybercriminals is caused by the active development of cyber technologies and an increase in the number of attacks.
South Korean authorities have expressed concern about the active development of cybercrime in North Korea. Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, also actively encourages the development of hacking skills among the country's citizens, offering monetary rewards. In the face of increased sanctions and economic difficulties, the country is actually putting all its efforts on the line to achieve success in cyber attacks in order to gain financial and technological benefits. It is reported that Kim Jong-un personally orders to expand cyber operations and improve the skills of hackers, offering them significant monetary rewards.
Intelligence sources estimate that the number of cyber specialists in North Korea may continue to grow. Information technology specialists are actively involved in software development with malicious code and theft of virtual assets. Over time, the methods and targets of North Korea's hacking attacks are becoming more diverse and audacious. Under Kim Jong-un's leadership, the country is focusing significant resources on training hackers, opening specialized training facilities.
The South Korean Intelligence Agency also notes that North Korea runs its own university, which is part of the intelligence agency's structure, where cybercriminals are trained. In 2009, Kim Jong-un united various units engaged in sabotage activities against South Korea, creating a single intelligence directorate. This key body reports directly to Kim Jong-un and receives direct instructions from him.
In 2023, Kim Jong-un issued a decree according to which the selection of candidates for hackers should not take into account their origin, but focus solely on their abilities. This decision demonstrates the high importance that the North Korean leadership attaches to the development of cybercrime as a source of financial profit.
Training young talents
According to intelligence agencies, North Korea actively selects children with outstanding abilities in mathematics and computer science and sends them to specialized educational programs to train cybercriminals. These programs include basic, specialized, and advanced courses, preparing future hackers for real-world cyber attacks.The most talented graduates of North Korean hacker training institutions go on internships at foreign universities or take short-term courses in the country. They acquire practical skills, which they then apply as part of hacker groups such as Lazarus and Kimsuky, which carry out cyber attacks to support the nuclear program and strengthen the regime.
Kim Jong-un already in 2013 called cyberwar a "universal sword", comparable in importance to the country's nuclear and missile potential. Since then, training hackers has become a priority for the state. North Korea is actively strengthening its cybercrime infrastructure by importing high-performance computers and other technological tools.
Source
