Amid U.S. accusations linking North Korea to the Binance hacking incident, Kim Yo-jong, head of the Workers' Party of Korea's General Affairs Department, has issued an unusually strong statement. Analysts suggest that North Korea is adjusting its response level while being mindful of its international reputation and the potential for future U.S.-North Korea dialogue.
On November 3, a Unification Ministry official stated during a press briefing at the government complex in Seoul, "This is the first time Kim Yo-jong has reacted to U.S. and international concerns regarding North Korea's cyber activities. The international ramifications of the Binance hacking incident have prompted a serious response from North Korea."
Historically, North Korea has typically responded to allegations of cybercrime through its Foreign Ministry or the Korean Central News Agency, often remaining silent. For instance, when $1.5 billion worth of assets were stolen from the cryptocurrency exchange Bybit in February of last year, North Korea did not issue an official response.
The Unification Ministry official explained that Kim's direct statement reflects North Korea's desire to present itself as a responsible state while expanding its diplomatic outreach. In her statement, Kim described the allegations of North Korean involvement in the hacking as "absurd rumors" and labeled them a "serious political provocation" and an "infringement on the sovereignty of the Republic." She also noted, "This reaffirms Washington's hostile stance toward North Korea," adding that there are "issues that should be reconsidered from various perspectives."
The absence of specific retaliatory measures in her statement, along with the use of the phrase "issues to reconsider," has drawn attention. The Unification Ministry official remarked, "There is little mention of military responses in the statement, suggesting they are leaving some room for interpretation while clarifying their position."
The ministry believes that North Korea is cautious about the possibility of U.S.-North Korea dialogue and is wary of illegal cyber activities becoming a new topic for negotiations. This analysis suggests that while maintaining a hardline stance against the U.S., North Korea is pressuring the U.S. to retract its hostile policies while keeping the door open for future talks.
There are interpretations that North Korea is being careful not to escalate tensions, especially with the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, where discussions among U.S., Chinese, and Russian leaders may include the Korean Peninsula issue. Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump also indicated a willingness to engage in dialogue regarding North Korea's potential involvement in the Binance hacking, stating, "If it's North Korea, we should talk to North Korea."
Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, noted, "This statement is more about messaging regarding U.S.-North Korea relations than about cyber issues. It indicates North Korea's expectation or intention to utilize potential contacts with the U.S."
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, commented that Kim's expression of "issues to reconsider regarding the U.S. hostile attitude toward North Korea" sends a strategic message linking this incident to U.S.-North Korea dialogue.
North Korea's swift response may also stem from concerns that cyber issues could lead to additional sanctions. If the U.S. freezes North Korean-linked cryptocurrency wallets and imposes sanctions on mixing services used for money laundering, it could significantly impact North Korea's foreign currency procurement.
Im Ul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University's Far East Institute, explained, "If sanctions on cryptocurrency wallets and mixing services lead to secondary sanctions on global exchanges, North Korea would inevitably face significant damage. They likely reacted strongly from the outset to prevent their funding sources from being cut off."
The Unification Ministry has taken a cautious stance regarding North Korea's involvement in the hacking and the possibility of additional sanctions. An official stated, "As far as I know, relevant information regarding the Binance incident has not yet been shared among related agencies. We need to assess the situation accurately before discussing response measures with relevant departments."
Some experts argue that regardless of the immediate effectiveness of sanctions, South Korea should participate in independent cyber sanctions against North Korea to expand the international sanctions network. Shin Beom-cheol, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute, stated, "Even if the immediate utility of sanctions is not high, it is significant in revitalizing the sanctions network. If South Korea imposes sanctions, it could lead to participation from Europe, following the U.S. and Japan, which would have long-term implications."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.