North Korea arrests bank hacking ring tied to crypto laundering: ReportDaily NK reported that North Korea arrested former state cyber operators accused of hacking two state banks and laundering funds through crypto.

North Korean authorities have reportedly arrested a group of former state cyber operators and IT specialists accused of hacking two state banks and laundering stolen funds through cryptocurrency. According to South Korean news outlet Daily NK, which cited an anonymous source in Pyongyang, the group allegedly infiltrated the internal networks of the central bank of North Korea and the Foreign Trade Bank. The stolen funds were converted into cryptocurrency and laundered via brokers based in China. Cointelegraph was unable to independently verify these claims.

If confirmed, these arrests would represent an unusual situation in which North Korean cyber operators are accused of stealing from their own government’s financial institutions. North Korea is widely believed to direct state-backed hacking groups to target cryptocurrency companies as a means to generate revenue and evade international sanctions. This alleged incident differs from typical reports of North Korean hacking activities, which usually involve external targets.

Daily NK is a Seoul-based news outlet specializing in coverage of North Korea and relies on a network of inside sources. However, reporting from North Korea remains difficult to verify independently due to the country’s strict restrictions on information and access. Cointelegraph emphasizes its commitment to transparent and accurate journalism, advising readers to independently verify information when possible.