US Government Expands Charges Against North Korean Hackers- Authorities Describe Them as The ‘World’s Leading Bank Robbers’

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed new charges against the North Korean state-sponsored Lazarus Group. The hackers are allegedly responsible for stealing over $1.3 billion in cryptocurrencies and fiat during coordinated cyber-heists.

North Korean Hackers Also Developed and Deployed Malicious Crypto Apps

According to the announcement, law enforcement expanded charges to Park Jin Hyok, a North Korean military hacker, from his involvement in hacking Sony in 2018, deploying Wannacry ransomware attacks, and other financial cyber thefts.

Moreover, the new indictment unsealed mentioned Jon Chang Hyo and Kim Il as part of the new measures taken by the DOJ. Authorities also said that three hackers belong to the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), a North Korean military intelligence agency.

Lazarus Group is the codename given by the U.S. authorities to the military hacking groups of North Korea.

Per the counterintelligence findings, the RGB has participated in several crypto-related cybercriminal campaigns since 2014 to provide funding to the North Korean regime.

The DOJ mentioned that Lazarus Group developed multiple malicious crypto applications from March 2018 through at least September 2020. Such apps include Celas Trade Pro, Worldbit-bot, icryptofx, Union Crypto Trader, Kupay Wallet, Coingo Trade, Dorusio, Cryptoneuro Trader, and Ants2whale.

Hackers Were Involved in a $75 Million Theft of a Slovenian Crypto Company

Law enforcement revealed a case related to an unnamed Slovenian crypto company. Per the court documents, the hackers participated in the theft of $75 million from such a firm in December 2017.

They were also involved in a $24.9 million theft of another crypto business in September 2018, but this time in Indonesia.

Paul Abbate, FBI deputy director, commented on the DOJ’s announcement:

The ongoing targeting, compromise, and cyber-enabled theft by North Korea from global victims was met with the outstanding, persistent investigative efforts of the FBI in close collaboration with U.S. and foreign partners. By arresting facilitators, seizing funds, and charging those responsible for the hacking conspiracy, the FBI continues to impose consequences and hold North Korea accountable for its/their criminal cyber activity.

Also, assistant attorney general John C. Demers of the DOJ’s National Security Division pointed out that Lazarus Group can be considered the “world’s leading bank robbers” nowadays.

As news.Bitcoin.com reported recently, a panel of experts at the United Nations stated that North Korea had amassed $316 million in cryptos from various cyberattacks on crypto exchanges and financial institutions.

What are your thoughts on this U.S. DOJ announcement on Lazarus Group? Let us know in the comments section below.