{"id":55937,"date":"2018-01-03T05:40:41","date_gmt":"2018-01-03T05:40:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=55937"},"modified":"2018-01-03T05:40:41","modified_gmt":"2018-01-03T05:40:41","slug":"north-korea-hacking-cryptocurrency-to-fuel-world-war-3-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/world-news\/north-korea-hacking-cryptocurrency-to-fuel-world-war-3-threat.html","title":{"rendered":"North Korea HACKING cryptocurrency to fuel World War 3 threat"},"content":{"rendered":"

North Korea HACKING cryptocurrency to fuel World War 3 threat<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

BITCOIN’s rocketing value has transformed the cryptocurrency into a perfect target for North Korea as economic pressure weighs down the rogue nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bitcoin has seen a 1,514 percent rise in value during 2017, trading at $963 in January 2017 and currently worth $14,968.43, according to Coindesk.com, on January 2, at 7.20pm GMT.<\/span><\/p>\n

North Korea has been struggling under economic uncertainty after the United Nations unleashed a series of new sanctions to clamp down fears of World War 3, following ignored calls to end Pyongyang\u2019s nuclear development programme.<\/span><\/p>\n

Currency analysts have suggested North Korea could now be using cryptocurrency bitcoin to support its weapons development programme since cash flow to the country was cut off.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bloomberg’s Asia Technology editor Edwin Chan said bitcoin’s digital nature made the cryptocurrency “more easily laundered,” thus helping North Korea store hard cash to fuel its weapons programme.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr Chan said: “Cryptocurrencies are more easily laundered. And also the North Koreans are increasingly using third-party service systems to do the mining for them and the reason for doing that is because it\u2019s an expensive process.<\/span><\/p>\n

“North Koreans have been linked to attacks on cryptocurrency exchanges. We understand they do mining of their own but North Korea denies all such reports.<\/span><\/p>\n

“However, Pyongyang needs high currency to fund its nuclear weapons development programme, allegedly.”<\/span><\/p>\n

But cybersecurity expert Luke McNamara said his company had noticed hackers previously linked to espionage activities for the North Korean government take a sudden interest in bitcoin early in the year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr McNamara said: “The fact that it has appreciated so much in value this year means that it\u2019s attracting a lot of interest from various cybercriminals.<\/span><\/p>\n

“We have noticed North Korean hackers actually pivot to start going after places like cryptocurrency exchanges in South Korea.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Officials in Seoul say they are keeping tabs on North Korea\u2019s bitcoin-related activities, which analysts warn are being used to subvert international sanctions.<\/span><\/p>\n

North Korea leader Kim Jong-un has warned a “nuclear button is always on my desk” as he threatened the US during his New Year’s address in Pyongyang.<\/span><\/p>\n

But he also appeared to extend an olive branch to neighbouring Seoul, suggesting Pyongyang could ultimately send a team to the Winter Olympics scheduled to take place in Pyeongchang in February 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0https:\/\/www.express.co.uk\/news\/world\/899289\/Bitcoin-price-North-Korea-news-World-War-3-Kim-Jong-un-nuclear-programme-hack-video<\/span><\/p>\n

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