Kim Jong Un Oversaw AI Drone Tests, Emphasizes Military Advancements

North Korea launched multiple unidentified ballistic missiles on March 10, 2025, coinciding with the start of the joint military exercise "Freedom Shield" involving the United States and South Korea. The drills, described as defensive, have been condemned by Pyongyang as a "provocative act" that risks igniting conflict. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the launch, noting that the missiles were fired from Hwanghae province into the West Sea, also known as the Yellow Sea. The ongoing military drills run until March 20 and involve various types of training, including live exercises. Tensions have escalated on the Korean Peninsula, particularly after a recent incident in which South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped bombs during a separate drill, injuring 31 people. Analysts suggest the significant military activities underscore the frosty relations between the two Koreas, which remain technically in a state of war since their conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. North Korea continues to react to US military presence in the region with missile tests, further complicating diplomatic efforts.

North Korean hackers have successfully cashed out at least $300 million from a record-breaking $1.5 billion heist involving the ByBit crypto exchange, according to the FBI and crypto investigator Elliptic. The cybercriminals, suspected to be affiliated with North Korea’s Lazarus Group, gained access to ByBit’s systems by compromising a supplier’s digital wallet on February 21, redirecting a transfer of 401,000 Ethereum coins to an address they controlled. Elliptic's study revealed that approximately 20% of the stolen assets are likely "gone dark" and unrecoverable. Dr. Tom Robinson, Elliptic's co-founder, noted the urgency for hackers to obfuscate their transactions, underscoring their sophistication. ByBit's CEO, Ben Zhou, reassured clients that their funds are secure, as the company used investor loans to refund the stolen amounts. The theft’s proceeds are believed to potentially fund North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programs, with experts highlighting the regime's adeptness in cybercrime. Dr. Dorit Dor from Check Point emphasized North Korea's creation of a criminal industry out of hacking.

North Korean state-backed hackers have stolen approximately $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency, marking the largest theft in crypto history, according to Chainalysis. The cyber attackers infiltrated the systems of Dubai-based exchange Bybit to steal Ether, eclipsing previous records set by criminals in 2024, who stole around $1.3 billion. Security experts believe the notorious Lazarus Group, linked to North Korea’s intelligence agency, executed the latest heist. This attack demonstrates the advanced tactics employed by North Korean hackers, which include hacking and social engineering to deceive targeted employees into revealing sensitive information, Chainalysis noted. The funds stolen in this single incident exceed the total of the largest bank theft ever, when Saddam Hussein took $1 billion from the Iraqi central bank in 2003. Analysts highlight that North Korea's cyber operations are increasingly leveraging sophisticated hacking techniques as a means of funding its economy, which is heavily sanctioned globally. As of now, Bybit assured it possesses sufficient assets to cover its losses, labeling the incident an “isolated incident.”