North Korea has allegedly used cybercriminals to accumulate more than $3 billion in cryptocurrency over the past five years, with the stolen funds believed to finance around half of the country's nuclear program. The hackers impersonate tech workers or job recruiters and target blockchain gaming firms, with one heist reportedly netting over $600 million.

The US Treasury Department has linked the hacking group Lazarus to North Korea and has imposed sanctions on Tornado Cash, a "mixer" accused of aiding hackers in laundering the proceeds of their cybercrimes. North Korea's cyber operations are becoming increasingly sophisticated, as demonstrated by their successful execution of large-scale thefts and advanced cyber maneuvers.