The US, Japan and South Korea have agreed to make new efforts to combat the cyberthreats posed by North Korea. The National Security Advisors of the three countries met in Seoul on December 9 to address the same.
The meeting builds upon commitments made at a trilateral summit led by President Joe Biden in August, where leaders vowed to strengthen security and economic collaboration. The three nations expressed significant concern about North Korea’s alleged “malicious” cyber activities supporting its prohibited weapons programs.
North Korean state media asserted on Saturday that Pyongyang is resolute in its intention to launch additional spy satellites in the near future, characterizing space development as an integral aspect of its right to self-defense.
The United Nations has identified cryptocurrency funds stolen by North Korean hackers as a significant funding source for the country’s weapons programs, with such theft reaching a record high last year. Pyongyang has consistently denied allegations of hacking or other cyberattacks.
Takeo Akiba, Japan’s national security secretariat secretary-general, highlighted North Korea’s “illicit cyber activities” as a recent and pressing challenge, emphasizing them as a crucial source of funds for the isolated state’s nuclear missile development.
In recent weeks, South Korea disclosed its intention to deploy a proprietary spy satellite by the conclusion of November. The satellite is scheduled to be transported into space via a rocket provided by SpaceX, the company founded by Elon Musk. This marks the inaugural launch of a series, as Seoul reportedly aims to send a total of five spy satellites into orbit by the year 2025.
North Korea-Russia Bond fuelled this Initiative?
There have been claims of North Korea providing ammunitions to Russia in the war against Ukraine and receiving technology in exchange to update and equip their nuclear military.
North Korea has been flaunting its new nuclear doctrine that allows the pre-emptive use of the nuclear weaponry. Furthermore, the tensions in the Korean Peninsula have escalated with the launch of the country’s expanded nuclear programme.
The trilateral parties have reportedly strengthened defence and have begun new efforts to evade possible threats which DPRK claims is rehearsals for invasion.
The NPT or the non proliferation treaty signed by most nuclear weapon holding countries that fear the consequences of growing nuclear arsenal. India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel have not signed the treaty.
