The North Korean hackers behind the latest theft of over $6 billion from Binance.
They are selected as early as elementary and middle school and sent to elite schools in Pyongyang, such as Pyongyang No. 1 Middle School, where they focus on mathematics and computer science.
The top students go on to Kim Chaek University of Technology, Kim Il Sung University, or the University of Automation after graduating from high school.
The University of Automation is the North Korean military’s cyberwarfare school. It was formerly the renowned Mirim University, a breeding ground for hackers. These schools specialize in programming, networking, and hacking, and students generally study for about five years.
After graduation, they are assigned to cyber units under the Reconnaissance General Bureau of the Korean People’s Army, which oversees the Lazarus hacker group. South Korean officials estimate that these cyber units number from several thousand to more than ten thousand personnel.
In addition, many are sent to Shenyang and Dandong in China, as well as Russia and Southeast Asia. Disguised as ordinary IT outsourcing workers, they take on contract work to earn foreign currency while also carrying out cyberattacks.
Those selected, along with their families, may live in the capital, Pyongyang, and receive better housing and rations. But those sent abroad must leave their families behind in North Korea, effectively making them hostages.
They are selected as early as elementary and middle school and sent to elite schools in Pyongyang, such as Pyongyang No. 1 Middle School, where they focus on mathematics and computer science.
The top students go on to Kim Chaek University of Technology, Kim Il Sung University, or the University of Automation after graduating from high school.
The University of Automation is the North Korean military’s cyberwarfare school. It was formerly the renowned Mirim University, a breeding ground for hackers. These schools specialize in programming, networking, and hacking, and students generally study for about five years.
After graduation, they are assigned to cyber units under the Reconnaissance General Bureau of the Korean People’s Army, which oversees the Lazarus hacker group. South Korean officials estimate that these cyber units number from several thousand to more than ten thousand personnel.
In addition, many are sent to Shenyang and Dandong in China, as well as Russia and Southeast Asia. Disguised as ordinary IT outsourcing workers, they take on contract work to earn foreign currency while also carrying out cyberattacks.
Those selected, along with their families, may live in the capital, Pyongyang, and receive better housing and rations. But those sent abroad must leave their families behind in North Korea, effectively making them hostages.