By Temidire Adefolarin
North Korea has strongly rejected allegations linking it to the theft of approximately $6 billion from cryptocurrency exchange Binance, accusing the United States of attempting to damage its international reputation through what it described as politically motivated accusations.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued the response on Tuesday, describing Washington’s allegations as a serious provocation and disputing claims that the country was responsible for major cyberattacks.
Her reaction followed an announcement by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Saturday identifying a North Korea-linked hacking group, known as TraderTraitor, as responsible for the attack on Binance.
The group has also been linked to the February 2025 cyberattack on cryptocurrency platform Bybit, in which approximately $1.5 billion was stolen. That incident was regarded as the largest cryptocurrency theft recorded at the time, before the reported Binance breach.
In her statement, Kim Yo Jong accused the United States of repeatedly associating North Korea with cybercrimes around the world without sufficient justification.
She maintained that the latest allegation was part of an effort to portray Pyongyang as responsible for international cyberattacks, insisting that such accusations were intended to undermine the country's reputation, dignity and sovereignty.
Kim also reaffirmed North Korea's opposition to malicious activities in cyberspace, while warning that Washington's latest claims had further reinforced what she described as its hostile position towards the country.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the diplomatic relationship between Washington and Pyongyang, particularly as US President Donald Trump expressed reservations about North Korea's alleged involvement.
Speaking to reporters at his Florida residence on Saturday, Trump said the United States was still investigating the incident and that it was not yet certain who was responsible.
"I'm not concerned. We're learning about it. We don't know if it's North Korea," he said.
Trump has repeatedly indicated his willingness to renew diplomatic engagement with North Korea since returning to office, including expressing interest in meeting Kim Jong Un again this year.
However, Pyongyang has yet to respond positively to the overtures.
Kim Yo Jong's latest comments suggest that the cyberattack allegations could further complicate efforts to improve relations between both countries.
Meanwhile, Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by daily trading volume, has come under renewed scrutiny following the security breach. Reports of the attack triggered sharp declines in the prices of several major cryptocurrencies on Friday, highlighting the potential financial consequences of major security incidents within the digital asset industry.
Temidire Adefolarin
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