Fake tax invoices infected with NK-linked malware target S. Koreans: cybersecurity firmFake tax invoice files embedded with malicious code linked to North Korean hackers have been found circulating online in a security threat targeting South Koreans, according to a Seoul-based cybersecurity company Tuesday. ESTSecurity said it has identified KimJongRAT-infected files circulating online, noting the remote access Trojan is believed to be linked to the Pyongyang-sponsored hacking group Kimsuky. The file, disguised as a PDF document, actually contained a shortcut that directed users to a link leading to the download of malicious files. The security company said the malicious code was precisely tailored to target South Korean users. "While Microsoft is enhancing security, KimJongRAT remains an extremely effective attack method in environments with weak security features," ESTSecurity said, noting that users should keep their software updated. ESTSecurity also advised users to check file extensions before executing files.Dec 2, 2025By Yonhap
Ministry stresses humanitarian consideration over home remittance by NK defectorsHumanitarian aspects should be considered in handling legal issues involving remittances sent by North Korean defectors to their families back home, the unification ministry said Tuesday. "Both legal and humanitarian aspects should be considered in a balanced way," a unification ministry official told reporters after a Seoul court was reported to have recently delivered a not-guilty sentence to a person accused of brokering remittances sent by North Korean defectors to their families back in the North. The defendant was among many North Korean defectors charged with violating the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act for involvement in remittances to North Korea under former President Yoon Suk Yeol's government. Before the conservative government, remittances by North Korean defectors to their families back in the North had largely been tolerated as long as no security-related issues were suspected. "Money sent by defectors to their families in North Korea often amounts to nothing more than living expenses. Under the current situation, where there is no law regulating this, some (defectors)Dec 2, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim sends congratulatory message to Lao president on ruling party founding anniversaryNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a congratulatory message Tuesday to the Lao president on the 50th founding anniversary of the South Asian country's ruling party, state media reported. "I extend warm congratulations and greetings to you and, through you, to the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Lao people," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim as saying in the message to President Thongloun Sisoulith. Kim said the Lao people have made "remarkable successes" over the past 50 years in strengthening the people's democratic system and achieving the prosperity and development of the state under the party's leadership. The North Korean leader also expressed "belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and the two countries will continue to develop on good terms in conformity with the spirit of the agreement reached at our meeting in Pyongyang," the KCNA noted. Kim held a summit with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Pyongyang in October on the occasion of the 80th founding anniversaDec 2, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korean hacking group Lazarus behind 31 attacks over past year: reportNorth Korean hacking group Lazarus is suspected to have been behind at least 31 cyberattacks over the past year, a report showed Sunday, amid mounting speculation that the group was responsible for a recent massive cryptocurrency breach at South Korean crypto exchange Upbit. AhnLab, a local software security firm, made the assessment in its latest report, saying Lazarus topped the list of advanced persistent threat (APT) groups with 31 incidents from October 2024 to September this year. Another North Korea-backed group, Kimsuky, followed with 27 cases, the same data showed. By country, North Korea accounted for 86 hacking incidents, followed by China at 27, Russia and India at 18 each, and Pakistan with 17. AhnLab noted that the actual number of attacks could be higher than disclosed due to the sophisticated methods used by APT groups. The report comes amid suspicions that Lazarus was behind a breach that drained around 45 billion won ($30.6 million) worth of cryptocurrency from Upbit last week. Authorities said the techniques used in the latest heist were similar to those employed in a 20Nov 30, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim vows to bestow new strategic assets, duty on air force founding anniversaryNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a ceremony marking the 80th founding anniversary of the country's air force, saying it will be given new strategic military assets and a "new important duty," state media reported Sunday. Kim made the remarks during the celebration event held Friday at Kalma Airport of the 59th Kil Yong Jo Hero Flying Group of the Second Air Wing, to mark the founding anniversary of the Air Force of the Korean People's Army, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Delivering a speech at the anniversary celebration, Kim said, "The Air Force will be given new strategic military assets and entrusted with a new important duty," although he did not specify what those strategic assets would be. "The expectations ... for the Air Force which will play a role in the exercise of the nuclear war deterrent is very great, and that the Air Force should resolutely repulse and control all sorts of espionage acts and possible military provocations of the enemies to encroach upon the sovereign airspace," he noted. As North Korea continues to push the modernization of its coNov 30, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korean hacking group Lazarus suspected behind recent crypto hacking: sourcesNorth Korean hacking group Lazarus is suspected to be behind a recent breach of around 45 billion won ($30.6 million) worth of cryptocurrency from South Korea's largest crypto exchange Upbit, sources said Friday. According to government and business sources, authorities plan to carry out an on-site investigation at the crypto exchange with a belief that Lazarus was behind the hacking. Dunamu, which operates Upbit, said Thursday it confirmed the transfer of 44.5 billion won worth of Solana-affiliated assets to an unauthorized wallet address and plans to cover the full amount with assets the company owns.Nov 28, 2025By Yonhap
Pyongyang says S. Korea-US joint military drills aimed at deterring N. KoreaNorth Korea on Friday blasted the recent joint U.S.-South Korea anti-submarine drills called Silent Shark, as well as other joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington, saying such drills were aimed at deterring Pyongyang. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) issued the criticism in a commentary, taking aim at recent joint drills between Washington and Seoul, including an anti-special operation drill near South Korea's Pyeongtaek and the monthlong Silent Shark exercise in Guam. The KCNA also cited the recent U.S. forward deployment of F-16 fighter jets to Osan Air Base in South Korea to bolster joint operational capability, as well as the recent installation of a U.S. forward arming and refueling point on Japan's Yonaguni Island and the upcoming Proliferation Security Initiative drill in Japanese waters. "It is an irrefutable fact that it is aimed at deterring the DPRK and regional countries by force and securing air superiority in contingency," the KCNA said. DPRK stands for the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. North Korea calNov 28, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea plays friendly football, ice hockey matches with RussiaNorth Korea has played friendly football and ice hockey matches with Russia in bilateral sports exchanges, state media reported Friday, as the two countries expand ties following the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia in the war against Ukraine, North Korea's national women's football team defeated Russia 5-2 in their friendly match held at Kim Il Sung Stadium the previous day, watched by workers, athletes, football fans and members of the Russian Embassy in the country, the Korean Central News Agency said. It described the game as "a good opportunity to strengthen friendship between the athletes of North Korea and Russia and to develop football skills." North Korean media also reported on an ice hockey match between North Korean and Russian athletes under age 17, held in North Korea on Wednesday, adding the Russian team was visiting Pyongyang at the invitation of the North Korean sports ministry. Since signing a comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in June last year, North Korea has deployed troops to Russia to support its war with Ukraine, while widening bilNov 28, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim inspects construction site of greenhouse farm in SinuijuNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected the construction site of a greenhouse farm in the northwestern city of Sinuiju, state media reported Thursday, as the North has been pushing for implementing regional development projects. Kim visited the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm, whose construction is nearing completion, the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korea has been building a large greenhouse farm in vast areas of Wihwa Island, an islet in Sinuiju where the North suffered flood damage during last year's summer. Since attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the farm in February, the North's leader has visited the construction site almost every month since August. The construction of the greenhouse farm has reached 97 percent of completion, the KCNA said. "He noted with great satisfaction that the islet, once called a barren land, has turned into a golden islet with great potential for leading the regional development and the improvement of the material and cultural life of the local people," the KCNA said. North Korea is widely expected toNov 27, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea says cruise ship to launch on Taedong RiverNorth Korea will launch a luxury cruise ship in the downstream part of the Taedong River that flows to the western port city of Nampho, state media reported Wednesday, in an apparent bid to bolster tourism. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, said a "modern, luxurious 500-ton cruise ship" is currently in the final stage of construction, drawing public attention. If the construction is completed, the three-story cruise ship is expected to travel downstream along the Taedong River to the West Sea Barrage near Nampho, the paper said. The Taedong River is the North's key river that also runs through Pyongyang. The move comes as the North has been seeking to promote Nampho and areas along the Taedong River as tourist destinations. Pyongyang has recently opened a beach resort in the Kalma tourist zone in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan.Nov 26, 2025By Yonhap
