North Korea has built a sophisticated cybercrime operation by recruiting and rewarding its brightest young minds. Leader Kim Jong-un’s program, over a decade old, selects 200 of the smartest middle school students annually to study computer engineering. A select few eventually become elite hackers, tasked with high-stakes cyber heists like the recent Binance crypto hack, which netted an unprecedented US$6.3 billion.
The hackers are motivated by significant perks, including spacious apartments in the capital and substantial hard currency awards. These incentives come in exchange for grueling work hours, reflecting the regime’s long-term investment in cybercrime. Defectors and analysts confirm the program’s success, noting its evolution from running illegal gambling sites to executing the world’s largest cyber heist last month.
The strategy has paid off dramatically, transforming North Korea’s hacking group into a formidable force in the digital underworld. The Binance hack alone underscores the scale of their operations, marking a stark shift from their earlier, less ambitious ventures.