Former U.S. National Security Director "estimated GDP revenue of 25% due to North Korean cyberattacks"

The Asahi Shimbun reported that a former senior U.S. official responsible for cyber security is estimated to make 25 percent of the country's gross domestic product and GDP from cyberattacks using ransomware.

Paul Nakasone, former director of the U.S. National Security Agency, told local media in Tokyo on the 7th.

Former director Nakasone said cyberattacks using ransomware are what North Korea does best, and that one-quarter of GDP can be estimated to be obtained from such activities.

The UN Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee estimated that North Korea acquired $3 billion and 4 trillion won in South Korean money from 2017 to 2023 through "cyber takeover" such as virtual assets.

The international community believes that North Korea is withdrawing from virtual currency to finance the development of nuclear weapons under strong international sanctions.

Nakasone also said it would not be strange if North Korean troops were sent to Russia and Russia's cooperation with North Korea became closer, including cyberattacks in the field of cooperation.