North Korea denies crypto hack allegations, calls them 'absurd slander'

North Korea has denied allegations that it is behind recent international cryptocurrency hacking incidents. In a response to a question from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 3, a spokesperson for the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the claims "false information and absurd slander for political purposes." The spokesperson accused the U.S. of attempting to spread a false perception of North Korea by using government agencies, compliant media, and conspiracy groups to publicize a non-existent "cyber threat." They added that it is unfitting for the U.S., which they claimed controls global IT infrastructure and conducts indiscriminate cyberattacks, to portray itself as a victim. The international community and U.S. intelligence agencies have identified North Korean-linked hacking organizations, such as the Lazarus Group, as the primary culprits. North Korean hackers are estimated to have stolen over $6 billion in cryptocurrency since 2017 and accounted for 64% of all hacking damages in 2025.