27 Aug
The US government has warned countries around the world to be on the alert for North Korean hackers who have been targeting banks since February.
The Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal agencies issued the warning in a joint statement on Wednesday.
The statement refers to a hacking group that stole 81 million dollars from a bank in Bangladesh in 2016. The group is also believed to have launched cyberattacks on financial institutions in more than 30 countries since 2015.
The statement does not elaborate on the damage incurred, but warns that funds stolen by the hackers could be used to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, in violation of a UN ban.
It explains the hackers' methods in detail and recommends countermeasures.
The hacking group is said to be directed by North Korea's spy agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau.
The US government announced last year that it was targeting the group for sanctions.
NHK
