Analysis of Cybercrime Organization and Status in North Korea

Purpose: North Korea is training elite cyber hacking personnel and using them for cyber financial crimes, cyber terrorism, and cyber psychological warfare. The purpose of this study is to analyze the current state of cybercrime in North Korea and provide basic data to effectively respond to cybercrime in North Korea. Method: To train cyber specialists, North Korea selects elite personnel after intensive training through elementary, middle, and university education, and then forms a cyber hacking organization through them to analyze cybercrime conditions such as cyber financial crimes and cyber terrorism. Results: North Korean cyber agents are trained as cyber specialists at Kim Il Sung University, Kim Chaek University of Technology, and Mirim Military University. Since then, it has been confirmed that it is a member of the Technical Reconnaissance Bureau under the Reconnaissance General Bureau, engaged in cyber financial crimes, cyber terrorism, and cyber psychological warfare, and that APT37, North Korea's hacking organizations, and Kimsuky are working to steal military secrets from major countries such as South Korea, the United States, and Japan. Conclusion: North Korea's network environment and Internet utilization are among the lowest in the world, but its cyber hacking capabilities are estimated to be among the best in the world. In order to respond to such cyberattacks from North Korea, it is urgent to improve legislation, such as strengthening cyber investigation capabilities and enacting the National Cyber Security Framework Act.