North Korean hackers stole over $180 million in crypto during H1 2023: report

North Korea continues to pose a significant threat in the realm of cryptocurrency exploits, as hackers from the country have illegally accumulated at least $180 million in the first six months of this year, according to the South Korean national intelligence agency.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service disclosed the figure during a press briefing today, as reported by local media outlet Asia Today.

Involvement of Lazarus Group

North Korean hacking organization, Lazarus Group, is among the most sought-after suspects in numerous crypto-related hacks. CoinsPaid, an entity linked to crypto payments processor Alphapo, disclosed that it endured a $37 million exploit last month, suspecting Lazarus Group as the culprit of the attack.

The U.S. government identified Lazarus as the principal offender in last year’s $600 million hack on Ronin, the blockchain that operates the play-to-earn game known as Axie Infinity. This group has been involved in theft from cryptocurrency users for several years.