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Articles by Mathew Ha
North Korean workers to make Russian drones, Ukrainian intel says
In addition to supplying munitions and troops to aid Russia’s war effort, North Korea is now providing thousands of workers to help Russia produce long-range one-way attack drones, Ukrainian military intelligence reported on November 14. If the report is accurate, this cheap labor could help Moscow further boost drone production while providing an additional revenue stream for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
11/19/25 Korean News and Commentary
Quotes of the Day: “Whenever any government, or church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, ‘this you may not read, this you might not see, this you are forbidden to know,’ the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy their motives.” – Robert A.
North Korea’s cybercrime threat is growing in both size and sophistication
Skip to content SPECIAL INSIDE THE CHINA THREAT | READ MORE → Powered by the McCrary Institute at Auburn University Get your cyber briefing Straight from our experts to your inbox
North Korea’s Cybercrime Threat Is Growing in Both Size and Sophistication
North Korean hackers have stolen more than $3 billion in the past three years, the U.S. Treasury Department announced on November 4. The department issued sanctions on two North Korean individuals based in their home country and six of their enabling partners based in China and Russia, along with two North Korean banks responsible for enabling some of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK’s) ill-gotten gains.
North Korean Military Parade Showcases Enhanced Weaponry and Ties With China and Russia
When North Korea’s neighbors paid a visit to Pyongyang on October 10, Kim Jong-Un treated them to a tightly orchestrated spectacle. Guests, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnamese General Secretary To Lam, attended a military parade that capped days of high-level talks between the four countries, largely focused on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
North Korea’s hackers compromise Fortune 500 companies
Although Beijing and Moscow pose the most “active and persistent” cyberthreats, according to U.S. intelligence, Pyongyang is demonstrating with artificial intelligence just how dangerous hackers can be. North Korean hackers are using AI deepfakes to trick recruiters and human resource personnel at some of the largest companies around the world, as well as cybersecurity firms themselves.
North Korea's hackers compromise Fortune 500 companies
- OPINION: Although Beijing and Moscow pose the most “active and persistent” cyberthreats, according to U.S. intelligence, Pyongyang is demonstrating with artificial intelligence just how dangerous hackers can be. North Korean hackers are using AI deepfakes to trick recruiters and human resource personnel at some of the largest companies around the world, as well as cybersecurity firms themselves.
North Korean Hackers Launder $1.5 Billion Largest Crypto Heist In History
If you want to launder $1 billion in cryptocurrencies, consult a North Korean hacker. Multiple blockchain analysis experts confirmed on March 3 that North Korean hackers had successfully dispersed most of the $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency assets they stole from Dubai-based exchange Bybit to new virtual wallets, obscuring the origin of the funds and making it harder for law enforcement to trace and recover them.
Tag Archives: Russian drones
Russian Shahed drone maker recruiting for new unmanned systems brigade | As part of Moscow’s efforts to expand its Unmanned Systems Forces, a vocational training center affiliated with Russia’s main Shahed drone producer is recruiting for a new unmanned systems brigade. Its recruitment messaging highlights fulfilling mandatory military service requirements while earning the pay of enlisted troops serving under contract but without the associated danger.
The Biden-Yoon Summit: An Opportunity To Chart A New Alliance Course
On April 26, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to host South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol for a bilateral summit and state visit in Washington, D.C. This meeting comes amid tensions on the Korean peninsula, as North Korea continues to test its wide range of ballistic missiles and sustains its hostile rhetoric towards the South and the U.S. The circumstances underscore the critical necessity of the ROK-U.S. alliance, which must remain iron-clad and resolute.
North Korea’s Political Warfare Strategy Has Failed: ROK - U.S. Alliance Needs A Superior Strategy
Approximately halfway into his first term, President Joe Biden has been given a wake-up call from Kim Jong Un that North Korea continues to remain a primary national security threat. Some policymakers, pundits, the press, and the public are concerned the administration has placed insufficient focus on in the first two years he has been in office due to the strategic competition with China, tensions over Taiwan and South China Sea, Putin’s War in Ukraine, and the threats emanating from Iran.
The Attack on America’s Future
Russia In his 2018 monograph for FDD, Boris Zilberman was one of the first scholars to detail how Moscow employs both state actors and proxies to get inside the information and communications technology (ICT) supply chain that is vital to America’s economic wherewithal.
Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker: Late June
Edited by David Adesnik Welcome back to the Biden Administration Foreign Policy Tracker, where FDD’s experts and scholars assess the administration’s foreign policy every two weeks. As always, they provide trendlines of very positive, positive, neutral, negative, or very negative for the areas they study.
South Korea Should Reassess Its Push for Inter-Korean Engagement
Lee In-young, the Republic of Korea (ROK)’s minister of unification, continues his push to revitalize inter-Korean engagement. In early June, Lee met with senior South Korean business leaders to reopen the Keumgang Mountain Resort complex, a joint inter-Korean tourism venture, as one way to improve inter-Korean relations.
U.S.-ROK Alliance Creates a New Cyber Working Group at Summit
President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed at their first summit on May 21 to deepen cyber cooperation by creating a new bilateral cyber working group to confront ransomware and other cybercriminal threats to both countries. These steps will improve the U.S.-ROK alliance’s coordination and information sharing in order to confront the evolving threat of North Korea’s cybercrime.
Biden Must Push President Moon to Get Real on ROK-China Relations
Anti-China sentiment is rising in South Korea (ROK), according to recent public opinion polls, social media, and online petitions. Chinese influence on Korean media and the increasing public awareness of Chinese economic and military aggression in the region help explain this phenomenon.
DOJ Charges Reveal North Korean Cybercrime and Money Laundering Schemes
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday indicted three North Korean cyber operatives and a Canadian-American money launderer for numerous cyberattacks against banks, virtual currency exchanges, entertainment companies, defense firms, online casinos, and several other victims worldwide. The indictment provides new insights regarding the critical support that North Korean hackers receive from foreign partners and accomplices.
North Korean Hackers Could Ramp Up Cyberattacks on COVID-19 Targets in Near Future
During a closed-door parliamentary session on Tuesday, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) informed the National Assembly that North Korea’s state-sponsored hackers are attacking South Korean pharmaceutical companies in an attempt to steal data on COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
Suspending U.S.-ROK Military Exercises Will Not Facilitate Peace Negotiations
In his new year’s press conference on January 27, Suh Wook, the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) defense minister, provided an ambiguous statement on plans for the combined ROK-U.S. military exercises scheduled for this spring.
Alliance With Japan Is Critical for Biden’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
Alliance With Japan Is Critical for Biden’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
Strengthening Alliance With Japan Is Critical for Biden’s Indo-Pacific Strategy
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Anthony Blinken, President Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State, called for Washington “to start approaching China from a position of strength, not weakness.” Kurt Campbell, Biden’s Indo-Pacific affairs coordinator at the National Security Council, added that “a conscious effort to deter Chinese adventurism” will require U.S. support of and coordination with allies such as Japan.
FDD | North Korea
On February 27, 2019, President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un met in Hanoi for their second summit.
Opening of Eighth Party Congress Shows Kim Jong Un Stays True to His Roots
North Korea’s ruling Korean Workers’ Party kicked off its Eighth Party Congress on Wednesday. This periodic meeting seeks to outline the North Korean government’s strategic objectives for a broad range of policy issues. While the outcome of the party congress still remains unclear, as the congress is ongoing, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s opening remarks indicate that he seeks to dramatically alter his economic policies, which thus far have failed to reduce poverty in the country.
Standing With the Free People of Taiwan
Advocates for American “restraint” and withdrawal often attribute international tension to the policies and actions of the United States, while ignoring the ideological predispositions, motivations, and actions of others. Nowhere is this dynamic more evident – or more consequential – than in the Taiwan Strait. If the United States is to defend its core interests in Asia and avoid war with China, leaders in Washington must be clear-eyed about developments related to Taiwan – and act accordingly.
Biden must not give in to North Korea’s demand for early sanctions relief
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden suggested during his campaign that he will engage in “principled diplomacy” with North Korea to achieve denuclearization. Pyongyang has yet to recognize Biden as the next U.S. president, but is likely hoping he will lift sanctions as an incentive to bring North Korean leader Kim Jong Un back to the negotiating table. Yet lifting sanctions before Pyongyang dismantles major components of its nuclear weapons program would be a serious mistake.
Biden Must Not Give in to North Korea’s Demand for Early Sanctions Relief
The Debate | Opinion Diplomatic success will require better sanctions enforcement, not looser sanctions. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ John Pavelka U.S. President-elect Joe Biden suggested during his campaign that he will engage in “principled diplomacy” with North Korea to achieve denuclearization. Pyongyang has yet to recognize Biden as the next U.S. president, but is likely hoping he will lift sanctions as an incentive to bring North Korean leader Kim Jong Un back to the negotiating table.
Treasury Sanctions Companies Exporting North Korean Labor to Russia
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned one Russian and one North Korean company on Thursday for facilitating the exportation of North Korean forced labor to generate revenue for the Kim Jong Un regime. While sanctions are helpful in countering Kim’s illicit financial networks, the latest designations only scratch the surface in targeting North Korea’s ongoing forced labor schemes around the world.
U.S. Issues Timely Alert on Another North Korean Hacking Group
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the United States Cyber Command Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF) issued a joint alert on Tuesday about North Korean hacking unit Kimsuky’s cyber operations.
UN Report Highlights How North Korea’s Embassies Help Pyongyang Flout Sanctions
A UN Panel of Experts evaluating international enforcement of North Korea sanctions publicly released its August 2020 report on Monday. Among other findings, the report appropriately emphasized the critical role that North Korea’s embassies and diplomatic missions play in Pyongyang’s sanctions-busting schemes.
Don’t Trust Kim Jong Un’s Rare Apology
David Maxwell & Mathew Ha FDD September 30, 2020 (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Kim Jong Un issued a rare apology to the South Korean government on September 25th after North Korean soldiers killed and then burned the corpse of a South Korean government official, which sparked outrage in Seoul.
Don’t Trust Kim Jong Un’s Unexpected Apology Over Murder of South Korean Official
Kim Jong Un issued a rare apology to the South Korean government on September 25th after North Korean soldiers killed and then burned the corpse of a South Korean government official, which sparked outrage in Seoul.
Justice Department Provides Roadmap to Escalate Pressure on North Korean Cybercrime
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a complaint last week seeking the authority to seize 280 cryptocurrency accounts linked to North Korean cyberheists. This DOJ action not only further exposes North Korea and China’s ongoing cooperation in criminal sanctions-evasion schemes, but also lays the groundwork for the U.S. government to ramp up pressure on Pyongyang’s cybercriminal activity.
Seoul Must Amplify the Voices of North Korean Escapees
Mathew Ha RealClearWorld August 27, 2020 North Korea demolished its side of a joint inter-Korean liaison office in June to express its outrage over an anti-regime leaflet campaign led by defectors in South Korea. Since then, Seoul’s leadership has revoked the charitable status licenses of defector-run organizations. Seoul has justified the move by arguing that it could help restore good will with North Korea, making it necessary in order to revive negotiations.
Beijing Seeks to Divide Seoul and Washington
Last week, the South Korean and Chinese governments held high-level meetings to enhance coordination on North Korea policy. Beijing seeks to erode Seoul’s commitment to working with the United States to escalate pressure on North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. In a meeting between South Korea’s new minister of unification, Lee In-young, and China’s ambassador to South Korea, Xing Haiming, Lee asked Xing for China’s help in resuming inter-Korean dialogue and engagement.
North Korean Cyber Espionage Campaign Seeks to Compensate for Air Power Vulnerabilities
McAfee, a U.S.-based private cybersecurity firm, released a new report last week assessing a North Korean cyber espionage campaign targeting the U.S. defense and aerospace industries. The campaign against these industries reflects Kim Jong Un’s vulnerabilities stemming from South Korea’s formidable airpower acquisitions over the past year. In 2020, in what McAfee named Operation North Star, North Korean hackers created bogus job offers to trick victims into opening malware-laden documents.
Report Shows North Korean Cybercriminals Now Target Online Shoppers
A new report by cybersecurity company SanSec indicates that North Korean state-sponsored hackers are diversifying their cybercrime operations, focusing on new targets beyond banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. SanSec’s report reveals North Korean hackers are gaining a firm foothold in a new criminal enterprise exploiting online retailers and shoppers.
Opinion | North Korea blows up a strategic building to blackmail the U.S. Don't fall for it. Original
The explosion that demolished the inter-Korean joint liaison office Tuesday afternoon should serve as a very loud wake-up call for those in Washington and Seoul who still believe that North Korea has any interest in dismantling its nuclear arsenal.
North Korea blows up a strategic building to try to blackmail the U.S. and South Korea
The explosion that demolished the inter-Korean joint liaison office Tuesday afternoon should serve as a very loud wake-up call for those in Washington and Seoul who still believe that North Korea has any interest in dismantling its nuclear arsenal.
China’s Coercion Threatens ROK-U.S. Alliance
The White House released a report on May 20 outlining U.S. efforts to counter China’s threat to American interests and the sovereignty of nations and individuals worldwide. Among the strategic challenges highlighted in the report, one that merits further attention is Beijing’s intent to undermine and end U.S. alliances in Asia.
Let's get serious about US-Taiwan cybersecurity cooperation
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security released a public service advisory last Wednesday, noting how Chinese government-sponsored hackers have increased cyberattacks against the United States from early January to the present. This U.S. government alert is a reminder that Chinese government cyberattacks have been a persistent threat against nations worldwide amid the global pandemic.
UN Report Reveals North Korea’s Persistent and Evolving Maritime Sanctions Evasion Schemes
The UN Panel of Experts on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) belatedly released a biannual report last week divulging North Korea’s persistent sanctions evasion activity, including its facilitation by both Russia and China. In particular, the report highlights Pyongyang’s elaborate and evolving maritime tactics designed to evade UN import and export sanctions.
China’s Coronavirus Disinformation Campaigns Are Integral to Its Global Information Warfare Strategy
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) successfully coerced the European Union into toning down criticism of China in an April 24 report that documents disinformation operations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one of many examples of Beijing’s attempts to dominate the international narrative surrounding COVID-19, an objective integral to its broader information warfare strategy.
How to Fight COVID-19 in North Korea While Maintaining Sanctions
Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI) last week introduced the Enhancing North Korea Humanitarian Assistance Act in their respective chambers, in an effort to expedite medical aid to North Korea. Although this new legislation attempts to show how the United States can simultaneously enforce sanctions and help the North Korean people most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unclear if this bill currently can fulfill these two critical objectives.
1/17/23 Korean News and Commentary
Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners Quotes of the Day: 1. US invests millions to expose regime to North Koreans 2. Kim Jong-un’s daughter may determine North Korea’s fate 3. ＜Inside N. Korea＞ The country’s medical system continues its freefall into collapse, with hospitals sending patients back home due to lack of heating 4. Why South Korea’s President is Talking About Nuclear Weapons 5. North Korean museum targets drug use, K-pop in campaign against social ills 6.
South Korea may opt for psychological warfare in response to NK threats
Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners YES, YES, YES. But it is not simply loudspeakers and leaflets and not simply sending insults of KJU to the north. We need a sophisticated and comprehensive information and influence activities campaign that includes government, military, and civil society activities.
Taiwan Continues to Lead in Fight Against Coronavirus
Taiwan announced on Tuesday that it will provide 10 million masks to countries hit hardest by the coronavirus crisis, including Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This responsible approach contrasts sharply with the hostility and duplicity of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which has prioritized the delegitimization of Taiwan over combating the pandemic.
North Korea Turns to Cyber Disinformation Attacks Amid Global Coronavirus Outbreak
Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) released a new report on March 26 revealing North Korean hackers’ persistent cyberattacks on news outlets to spread disinformation. This new development in North Korean cyber operations reflects not only Pyongyang’s interest in expanding the scope of its cyber capabilities, but also the Kim regime’s attempts to conceal its struggles in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus may force ROK/U.S. military alliance to contend with North Korean instability
David Maxwell and Mathew Ha 2 hours ago North Korea is woefully unprepared to deal with COVID-19. And that's a danger to the world. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) North Korea continues to deny that it is affected by the coronavirus. Yet all indications are that there is an outbreak in the North, though the extent of it is unknown.
Coronavirus may force ROK/U.S. military alliance to contend with North Korean instability
North Korea continues to deny that it is affected by the coronavirus. Yet all indications are that there is an outbreak in the North, though the extent of it is unknown. Such an outbreak can have severe consequences for South Korea, the ROK-U.S. alliance, and the region that few dare to consider: North Korean internal instability that could lead to regime collapse. North Korea is the least-equipped country in the world to deal with coronavirus.
North Korea Conducts Third Projectile Launch in 2020
North Korea launched two short-range projectiles and conducted a live-fire artillery competition late last week as the rest of the world, and likely North Korea itself, confronts the coronavirus pandemic. The purpose of these latest provocations may be to advertise the gradual advancement of North Korea’s rocket artillery and ballistic missile capabilities, but they may also be an effort to divert attention from signs that the regime is incapable of addressing the coronavirus epidemic.
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