North Korea denies being behind record $6.3bn Binance hack

North Korea has dismissed allegations that it was responsible for the massive $6.3 billion hack of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, branding them as "absurd rhetoric." Kim Yo-jong, a senior official from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, stated that the accusations are a "sinister attempt" by the US to tarnish the country's image.

The FBI, Secret Service, and cyber analysts have all pointed to North Korea as the mastermind behind the largest cyber attack in history. Despite these claims, Pyongyang has consistently denied involvement in cyber attacks, including a previous $1.5 billion heist of another exchange, Bybit. The evidence points to a state-backed hacking group named TraderTraitor, also known as the Lazarus Group, as the culprit.

The US has called on industry partners to block transactions involving cryptocurrency accounts linked to this group. North Korea has accused the US of provocation, saying the accusations are a "grave political provocation" against the country. The incident highlights North Korea's reliance on cybercrime to fund its economy, with the Lazarus Group previously linked to a string of major hacks.

Binance, the affected exchange, has focused on the technical aspects of the breach and its response to protect users, noting that its customers pulled out over $3.6 billion from the platform during the reopening period.