North Korea's army of hackers: Kim Jong Un’s ‘secret weapon’ behind the $6.3-billion Binance hack

North Korea has reportedly established a highly trained team of hackers, who have been identified and groomed from a young age. The government selects around 150 to 200 talented students every year, starting as young as 11 or 12, to study computer science. These promising students are sent to top universities at 17 and undergo extensive screening before being recruited into the military's cyber unit.

Kim Heung-kwang, a North Korean defector, stated that the country has developed a systematic process to identify and train young talent, making them one of Kim Jong Un's secret weapons.

The cyber unit was established in 1998 and gained more prominence under Kim Jong Un's leadership. In 2013, he described cyber warfare as an all-purpose sword central to the country's military capabilities. North Korean hackers have moved from operating illegal gambling websites to targeting major organizations and cryptocurrency platforms. The FBI and Binance have blamed North Korea for the recent $6.3 billion Binance hack, although Pyongyang denies the allegations.

Successful hackers can earn significant rewards, including large payments in foreign currency, travel opportunities to allied countries, and apartments in Pyongyang. These rewards can be as much as 30% of the stolen money in US dollars, according to Kim Heung-kwang. North Korea directs its brightest students towards nuclear and cyber programs, offering them opportunities that other young people may not have, ensuring a future for them within the regime.