North Korea says US-led cyber threat warnings are bid to smear its image

North Korea has accused the United States and its allies of fabricating unfounded accusations about its cyber activities to tarnish its image and justify imposing pressure on sovereign nations. The accusation was made by a foreign ministry spokesperson, as reported by state media KCNA.

The spokesperson specifically criticized a recent "joint warning" issued by the U.S. and partner countries regarding North Korean cyber threats, labeling it a "political accusation." The statement also targeted the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), a sanctions-monitoring body established by the U.S. and its allies.

"It is illogical that the U.S., which has possessed and operated the biggest cyber force in the world by monopolizing the core resources of cyber space, is talking about 'cyber threat' from other countries," the spokesperson stated, according to KCNA. This remark appeared to be a direct response to a joint alert issued by the U.S., South Korea, Japan, and eight other nations. The alert warned that North Korean IT workers use false identities to secure remote jobs, generating revenue for Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

North Korea's spokesperson further accused Washington of militarizing cyberspace through cyber warfare capabilities and joint exercises with allies. Pyongyang asserted that it would not tolerate what it termed "politically motivated attempts to use cyber issues as a means of pressure on other countries." In a separate editorial, a North Korean military commentator also criticized the U.S., South Korea, and Japan for turning the RIMPAC naval exercise into a rehearsal for aggression, warning that their growing military cooperation is creating a new security crisis in the Asia-Pacific region.

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It is illogical that the U.S., which has possessed and operated the biggest cyber force in the world by monopolizing the core resources of cyber space, is talking about 'cyber threat' from other countries.