SEOUL, May 3 (V7N) – North Korea rejected US accusations on Sunday that it has engaged in cyber crimes to generate illicit funds, labeling the criticism as "absurd slander." The United States had previously accused Pyongyang of ramping up its cyber-warfare program, which has been linked to the theft of billions of dollars in virtual assets in recent years, further boosting its foreign currency reserves amid tough sanctions over its nuclear and weapons programs.

In a statement issued by the Korean Central News Agency, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson dismissed the US claims, accusing Washington of spreading "incorrect understanding" about the country. The spokesperson called the accusations "false information" aimed at tarnishing North Korea's image for political purposes.

Earlier in April, the US Justice Department sentenced two Americans for assisting North Koreans in obtaining remote IT jobs with US companies, enabling the regime to raise millions of dollars in illicit revenue for its weapons programs. Over 100 US companies, including several Fortune 500 firms and a defense contractor, were reportedly targeted in the multi-year operation.

Cybersecurity experts and analysts, including Google, have also linked North Korean hackers to an ambitious attack on widely used but lesser-known software. A UN panel had estimated in 2024 that North Korean cyberattacks had stolen more than $3 billion in cryptocurrency since 2017, funds which are believed to finance the country's weapons development programs.

North Korea’s cyber-warfare program, which dates back to at least the mid-1990s, has earned it the title of "the world’s most prolific cyber-thief" from cybersecurity firms.

END/WD/RH