North Korea is reportedly setting up a powerful new hacking division within its intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), to escalate its cyber warfare capabilities.
According to Daily NK, a news outlet specializing in North Korean affairs, the newly formed unit—Research Center 227—will focus on AI-driven cyberattacks, the development of offensive hacking technologies, and strategies to infiltrate Western cybersecurity systems.
Citing an inside source, the report claims that Research Center 227 will specialize in stealing digital assets, refining AI-based hacking techniques, and supporting North Korea’s overseas cyber units in their operations.
In recent years, North Korean hackers have been behind some of the largest cryptocurrency heists worldwide, including the $1.4 billion Bybit hack. The U.S. NSA and FBI have repeatedly accused North Korea’s RGB of cyber espionage, digital theft, and large-scale hacking campaigns targeting financial institutions, tech firms, and government agencies.
With the rise of AI-driven cyber threats, North Korea’s latest move signals an even more aggressive push into digital warfare, raising concerns for global cybersecurity experts and intelligence agencies.
North Korea is ramping up its cyber warfare efforts with the launch of a new elite hacking unit under the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB)—the country’s top intelligence agency responsible for covert cyber operations.
Introducing Research Center 227: AI-Driven Cyber Threats
According to a recent report by Daily NK, a specialized news outlet covering North Korea, the newly established Research Center 227 will focus on:
- Developing AI-powered hacking technologies to enhance cyber infiltration tactics.
- Targeting Western cybersecurity networks to exploit vulnerabilities in government, financial, and tech systems.
- Strengthening digital asset theft capabilities, particularly in the cryptocurrency sector.
- Supporting North Korea’s overseas hacking groups, such as Lazarus Group, which has been linked to high-profile cyberattacks.
North Korea’s Growing Influence in Cybercrime
Over the past decade, North Korea has emerged as one of the most notorious state-backed cybercriminals, with hacks generating billions in stolen funds to evade international sanctions and finance military programs.
Some of the most notorious cyber heists attributed to North Korean hackers include:
- The $1.4 billion Bybit hack, one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts to date.
- The WannaCry ransomware attack (2017), which affected over 200,000 computers across 150 countries.
- The Sony Pictures hack (2014), where North Korean hackers leaked confidential company data.
U.S. and International Response
The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and FBI have long accused North Korea’s RGB and Lazarus Group of cyber espionage, financial fraud, and state-backed hacking. Washington has imposed multiple sanctions on North Korean cyber units, warning that Pyongyang’s latest developments in AI-driven hacking could pose an even greater global threat.
With AI-enhanced cyber capabilities, North Korea’s Research Center 227 is expected to take the country’s cyber warfare to the next level, making global financial institutions, tech firms, and even government agencies prime targets for future attacks.
As nations worldwide strengthen their cybersecurity defenses, North Korea’s relentless expansion in cyber warfare proves that digital threats are becoming as dangerous as conventional military operations.
