North Korean Hackers Stole $721 Million In Cryptocurrency From Japan

May 15, 2023 TH Author headline,hacker,government,cybercrime,fraud,cyberwar,japan,cryptography,military,north korea

TOKYO, May 15 (Reuters) – Hacker groups affiliated with North Korea have stolen $721 million worth of cryptocurrency assets from Japan since 2017, the Nikkei business daily reported on Monday, citing a study by U.K. blockchain analysis provider Elliptic.

The amount is equal to 30% of the total of such losses globally, the Nikkei reported.

The report comes after Group of Seven finance ministers and central bank governors said in a statement on Saturday that they support measures to counter growing threats from illicit activities by state actors, such as the theft of crypto-assets.

According to Elliptic, which conducted the analysis on behalf of the Japanese newspaper, North Korea has stolen a total of $2.3 billion in cryptocurrency from businesses between 2017 and 2022.

Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama, editing by Ed Osmond

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