{
  "id": 18482871,
  "title": "North Korea's army of hackers: Kim Jong Un’s ‘secret weapon’ behind the $6.3-billion Binance hack",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/north-koreas-army-of-hackers-kim-jong-uns-secret-weapon-behind-the-6",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-06T09:37:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times - World News",
    "slug": "hindustan-times-world-news",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/north-koreas-army-of-hackers-kim-jong-un-s-secret-weapon-behind-the-6-3-billion-binance-hack-101793948586978.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nSuccessful 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.",
  "summary": "The FBI and Binance have blamed Pyongyang for the $6.3-billion cyber heist, while North Korea has denied involvement in the attack.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "North Korea’s army of world-class hackers is secret weapon that took down Binance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/north-koreas-army-of-world-class-hackers-is-secret-weapon-that-took",
        "published": "2026-11-06T05:48:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Moneyweb",
        "title": "Hackers paid $15 to drain $2.5bn from Binance in one hit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/hackers-paid-15-to-drain-2-5bn-from-binance-in-one-hit",
        "published": "2026-11-06T07:00:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "North Korea's army of world-class hackers is secret weapon that took down Binance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/north-koreas-army-of-world-class-hackers-is-secret-weapon-that-took-18456846",
        "published": "2026-11-06T07:02:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNA - Business",
        "title": "North Korea's army of world-class hackers is secret weapon that took down Binance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/north-koreas-army-of-world-class-hackers-is-secret-weapon-that-took-18460539",
        "published": "2026-11-06T07:17:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Straits Times Business",
        "title": "Hackers paid US$15 to drain US$2.5b from Binance in one hit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/hackers-paid-us-15-to-drain-us-2-5b-from-binance-in-one-hit",
        "published": "2026-11-06T09:41:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Cointelegraph",
        "title": "Binance’s $6.3B hack leaves questions over hot wallet safeguards",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/binances-6-3b-hack-leaves-questions-over-hot-wallet-safeguards",
        "published": "2026-11-06T10:40:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}