North Korean Rejection of United States Allegations Regarding State-Sponsored Cyber Activity

北韓否認美國關於國家支持網絡活動的指控

May 3, 2026, 04:03
GlobalInternational

Introduction

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has formally denied accusations from the United States regarding the execution of international cybercrimes and cryptocurrency theft.

朝鮮民主主義人民共和國（北韓）已正式否認美國關於其執行國際網絡犯罪及盜取加密貨幣的指控。

Main Body

The DPRK Foreign Ministry, via the Korean Central News Agency, characterized US claims of a state-sponsored cyber threat as 'absurd slander' designed to degrade the nation's international standing. Pyongyang asserts that Washington has coordinated government and media entities to propagate a distorted narrative, framing the US as a primary victim of fraud to justify a long-standing hostile policy. The DPRK maintains that the instrumentalization of cyber issues for political leverage constitutes an infringement upon its national sovereignty, stating that all requisite measures will be implemented to safeguard its interests in cyberspace.

北韓外交部透過朝中社，將美國關於國家支持網絡威脅的指稱形容為「荒謬的誹謗」，旨在貶低該國的國際地位。平壤主張華盛頓協調政府與媒體實體來傳播扭曲的論述，將美國塑造為詐騙的主要受害者，以證明其長期敵對政策的合理性。北韓堅持認為，將網絡問題工具化以獲取政治籌碼，構成了對其國家主權的侵犯，並表示將採取所有必要措施以維護其在網絡空間的利益。

Conversely, the US administration and international bodies maintain that Pyongyang utilizes cyber-warfare to circumvent economic sanctions. A United Nations panel estimated that since 2017, DPRK-linked operations have expropriated over $3 billion in cryptocurrency to facilitate the development of weapons of mass destruction. Specific incidents cited include a $290 million theft from Kelp DAO by the 'TraderTraitor' subgroup of the Lazarus Group, and a $289.7 million theft from Drift Protocol. Furthermore, the US Justice Department recently sentenced two American nationals for facilitating the placement of North Korean IT workers within US corporate systems, including Fortune 500 companies and defense contractors, which officials stated posed a risk to national security. Additional technical analysis from Google and other cybersecurity firms suggests the targeting of widely utilized software packages by DPRK-affiliated actors.

相反地，美國政府及國際機構維持平壤利用網絡戰爭來規避經濟制裁的觀點。聯合國一個小組估計，自 2017 年以來，與北韓相關的行動已非法獲取超過 30 億美元的加密貨幣，以促進大規模殺傷性武器的開發。被引用的具體事件包括由 Lazarus Group 的「TraderTraitor」子小組從 Kelp DAO 盜取 2.9 億美元，以及從 Drift Protocol 盜取 2.897 億美元。此外，美國司法部近期判處兩名美國公民有罪，因其協助北韓 IT 工作人員進入美國企業系統（包括 Fortune 500 強公司和國防承包商），官員表示這對國家安全構成了風險。Google 及其他網絡安全公司的進一步技術分析顯示，與北韓關聯的行為者正針對被廣泛使用的軟體套件。

Conclusion

The DPRK continues to deny all allegations of cyber-theft while the US and UN maintain that such activities are central to the funding of Pyongyang's weapons programs.

北韓繼續否認所有網絡盜竊的指控，而美國與聯合國則維持這些活動是平壤武器計劃資金來源核心的觀點。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of Diplomatic Obfuscation & Nominalization

To transition from B2 to C2, one must move beyond describing actions and begin manipulating concepts. This text is a goldmine for studying Nominalization—the process of turning verbs (actions) into nouns (entities)—which is the hallmark of high-level bureaucratic and diplomatic discourse.

⚡ The Linguistic Pivot: From Action to Abstract

Observe how the text avoids simple subject-verb-object patterns to create a sense of objective distance and formal gravity:

  • B2 Approach: "The US is using cyber issues to get political power."
  • C2 Execution: "The instrumentalization of cyber issues for political leverage..."

By transforming the verb instrumentalize into a noun, the writer shifts the focus from the actor (the US) to the phenomenon (the act of instrumentalization). This allows for a denser, more sophisticated information load.

🔍 Dissecting the 'Power Lexicon'

C2 mastery requires the ability to employ 'heavy' nouns that encapsulate complex political maneuvers. Analyze these specific clusters from the text:

  1. "Absurd slander" →\rightarrow Instead of saying "they are lying," the text uses a noun phrase that assigns a quality (absurd) to a legal/social transgression (slander).
  2. "Distorted narrative" →\rightarrow This replaces the verb distort. It suggests a constructed reality rather than a simple lie.
  3. "Expropriated" →\rightarrow While not a nominalization, this is a precision-strike verb. It doesn't just mean 'stole'; it implies a seizure of property, often by an authority, adding a layer of irony to the US's accusation of the DPRK.

🛠️ Strategic Application: The 'Conceptual Shift'

To write at a C2 level, stop asking "What happened?" and start asking "What is the name of this process?"

Example Transformation:

  • Draft: "The government decided to change the law, which made the citizens angry." (B2)
  • Refinement: "The government's legislative amendment precipitated widespread civil unrest." (C2)

Key Takeaway: The text demonstrates that C2 English is not about 'bigger words,' but about the structural displacement of agency. By prioritizing nouns over verbs, the prose becomes authoritative, detached, and analytically precise.

Vocabulary Learning

cybercrimes (n.)
Illegal activities carried out using computer networks or digital technology.
Example:The government has intensified its crackdown on cybercrimes across the globe.
cryptocurrency (n.)
A digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security and operates independently of a central bank.
Example:Cryptocurrency has become a prime target for cybercriminals.
state-sponsored (adj.)
Supported or directed by a government or its agencies.
Example:The attack was identified as a state-sponsored operation.
cyber threat (n.)
A potential danger or risk posed by malicious activities in cyberspace.
Example:The cyber threat posed by foreign actors is growing.
cyber-warfare (n.)
The use of digital attacks to disrupt or damage a target's information systems.
Example:Cyber-warfare has emerged as a new frontier in international conflict.
instrumentalization (n.)
The act of using something as a tool or instrument for a specific purpose.
Example:The instrumentalization of technology for political ends is a growing concern.
infringement (n.)
The violation or breach of a law, right, or agreement.
Example:The company faced infringement charges for violating patents.
requisite (adj.)
Necessary or essential for a particular purpose.
Example:Requisite measures were implemented to secure the network.
safeguard (v.)
To protect or preserve from harm or danger.
Example:They safeguarded the data against unauthorized access.
cyberspace (n.)
The virtual environment created by computer networks, especially the Internet.
Example:Cybersecurity professionals monitor threats in cyberspace.
circumvent (v.)
To find a way around an obstacle or restriction.
Example:Hackers circumvented the firewall to gain access.
expropriated (v.)
To take possession of property, especially by a government, for public use.
Example:The regime expropriated the assets to fund its programs.
long-standing (adj.)
Existing for a long time; enduring.
Example:The long-standing rivalry ended after decades of tension.
political leverage (n.)
The advantage or influence one holds in political negotiations.
Example:The country used its resources as political leverage in the talks.
national sovereignty (n.)
The full right and power of a state to govern itself without external interference.
Example:The treaty respected each nation's national sovereignty.
economic sanctions (n.)
Financial penalties imposed by one or more countries on another to influence its behavior.
Example:Economic sanctions were imposed after the violation of international law.
national security (n.)
The protection of a nation from threats to its stability, safety, and interests.
Example:National security concerns prompted the rapid deployment of troops.
defense contractors (n.)
Companies that provide goods or services to a nation's armed forces.
Example:Defense contractors often receive targeted cyberattacks.
propagate (v.)
To spread or promote an idea, belief, or information widely.
Example:The organization sought to propagate its ideology across the region.
distorted (adj.)
Twisted or altered from its original form, often in a misleading way.
Example:The report presented a distorted view of the facts.
Practice C2 words in a crossword→