North Korea Rejects US Cyber-Theft Allegations as Groundless and Politically Motivated

On Sunday, May 3, 2026, Pyongyang dismissed Washington’s criticism as "groundless slander" and "politically motivated," according to a report by the news agency AFP. The North Korean government asserted that the accusations are a deliberate attempt to tarnish its international image.

Washington has long alleged that North Korea, facing severe economic sanctions, has intensified its cyber-warfare programs to fund its nuclear and missile development. According to the US Department of Justice and a panel of experts from the United Nations, North Korea has stolen over $3 billion worth of cryptocurrency since 2017. Furthermore, the US Justice Department reported in April that IT workers from Pyongyang have been working remotely for hundreds of US companies under assumed identities to funnel significant funds back to the regime, a move described as a direct threat to national security.

In a statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a spokesperson for North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the US government is spreading "fake cyber threats" to achieve political leverage. The spokesperson added that Washington’s narrative is built on fabrications intended to isolate the country on the global stage. Despite these denials, many international security agencies continue to view North Korea’s cyber capabilities—which have been developed since the mid-1990s—as one of the most significant digital threats in the world today.