Seoul, Wednesday, October 30, 2024 – The South Korean Foreign Ministry is actively training ASEAN nations to fight against North Korea’s crypto theft as part of an ongoing effort to bolster cyber defenses in the region.
The statement can be reached here: https://www.korea.kr/news/policyNewsView.do?newsId=148935397
According to an official report, the ministry aims to transfer its capabilities to experts from seven ASEAN countries.
The program, started earlier in October, concluded on October 27.
It includes collaboration with the Korea Information Security Industry Association (KISIA) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to assist ASEAN nations in countering North Korean cyber threats.
Seoul and Washington have long accused Pyongyang of employing state-sponsored hackers to steal cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin from global exchanges.
Blockchain analytics firms have linked North Korean organizations, such as Lazarus, to these thefts, which North Korean officials have consistently denied.
The program, which began with online pre-training from September 30 to October 8, aims to improve ASEAN countries’ abilities to respond to cyberattacks, protect crypto exchanges, and prevent money laundering through cryptoassets. Representatives from ASEAN’s financial and crypto sectors, as well as government officials, are participating in the training.
Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that ASEAN countries must remain vigilant against North Korea’s evolving cyber strategies.
It is part of broader efforts to develop robust institutional measures against illicit crypto activities in rapidly growing markets.
This development follows heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as South Korea has accused North Korea of sending troops to support Russian military efforts in Ukraine.
