North Korea mines cryptocurrency to circumvent sanctions

North Korea is turning to cryptocurrency as a means to circumvent sanctions.

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RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN North Korea is turning to cryptocurrency as a means to circumvent sanctions.

In a published report, analysts at Record Future say the regime is investing in high end machines for mining Monero and the activity has increased tenfold since May 2019.

Recorded Future, which has ties to the CIA, says North Korea heavily regulates internet access and allows only elite military officials to use the Web.

This makes Pyongyang's cyber traffic easier to sample and analyze.

North Korea also engages in cyber theft and espionage, including cryptocurrency theft, hacking enabled bank theft, and financial cybercrimes.

Over the past four years, those activities generated $2 billion, a sum equal to 7 percent of North Korea's annual GDP.

According to the report, North Korea has three main ways to connect to the Internet, which is via its normal allotted IP, China-based Unicom, or Russia's satellite company SatGate Holdings.

RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1.

North Korea mines cryptocurrency to circumvent sanctions 2.

NK's footprint is trackable because only elite officers use the Internet 3.

Pyongyang's cybercrimes generate $2 billion in revenue 4.

NK make use of its own IP and telecoms companies in China and Russia VOICEOVER (in English): "North Korea is turning to cryptocurrency as a means to circumvent sanctions.

In a published report, analysts at Record Future say the regime is investing in high end machines for mining Monero and the activity has increased tenfold since May 2019." "Recorded Future, which has ties to the CIA, says North Korea heavily regulates internet access and allows only elite military officials to use the Web.

This makes Pyongyang's cyber traffic easier to sample and analyze." "North Korea also engages in cyber theft and espionage, including cryptocurrency theft, hacking enabled bank theft, and financial cybercrimes.

Over the past four years, those activities generated $2 billion, a sum equal to 7 percent of North Korea's annual GDP." "According to the report, North Korea has three main ways to connect to the Internet, which is via its normal allotted IP, China-based Unicom, or Russia's satellite company SatGate Holdings." SOURCES: Recorded Future, MIT Technology Review https://www.recordedfuture.com/north-korea-internet-tool/ https://www.technologyreview.com/s/615262/north-koreas-ultra-secretive-ways-can-make-the-regime-easier-to-track-online/ *** For story suggestions please contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw For technical and editorial support, please contact: Asia: +61 2 93 73 1841 Europe: +44 20 7542 7599 Americas and Latam: +1 800 738 8377