Despite its isolation from the international community, the North Korean government has harnessed artificial intelligence (AI) technology to carry out cyberattacks that pose a threat to the security of other nations. These cyberattacks by North Korea target a variety of entities, ranging from government agencies and businesses to individuals. The use of AI technology has made their cyberattacks more sophisticated, effective, and challenging to defend against.

Questions have arisen regarding the infrastructure used by North Korea in the development of this AI technology. Are they independently developing AI technology, or are they engaged in secretive collaborations with global artificial intelligence companies? North Korea, known for its history of hacking South Korea for its own gain, now presents a genuine threat in the realm of cyberspace, as reported by Gizmochina.

The utilization of AI technology in cyberattacks by North Korea is prompting other countries to enhance their cybersecurity measures in response to this threat.

Bitcoin theft is also among the actions carried out by North Korean hackers. They stole a total of $316.4 million USD or approximately 4.4 trillion Indonesian Rupiah worth of crypto assets between 2019 and November 2020 from financial institutions and digital currency exchange platforms. The proceeds from this Bitcoin theft were used to finance North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

This information was revealed in confidential United Nations (UN) documents responsible for monitoring these activities. Despite facing pressure from various parties, including the UN, North Korea continues to pursue its nuclear weapons development. The UN's actions to impose economic sanctions, such as travel bans and freezing the assets of North Korean officials, as well as restrictions on exports and imports, have created financial difficulties for the country.

As an alternative, North Korea leverages the expertise of thousands of trained hacker units to target companies, institutions, and researchers in South Korea and elsewhere. They also target cryptocurrency exchanges as a source of income, given the surge in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency prices.

North Korea's capabilities in launching cyber warfare first came to light in 2014 when they were accused of hacking Sony Pictures Entertainment in retaliation for a satirical film mocking Kim Jong Un, titled 'The Interview.' In addition to cryptocurrency theft cases, North Korea has also been accused of orchestrating massive thefts, including $81 million USD from the Bangladesh Central Bank and $60 million USD from the Eastern International Bank of Taiwan