North Korea denies cryptocurrency theft allegations, calling them "absurd slander."

CoinFeed reported on May 4th that a spokesperson for the North Korean Foreign Ministry responded to US accusations of funding cryptocurrency theft through the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), calling them "absurd slander" and a "political tool" aimed at fueling the US's "hostile policies." The spokesperson also stated that North Korea will not tolerate any confrontational behavior against its national interests. According to data from blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, since 2017, North Korean-related cryptocurrency thefts have totaled over $6 billion, and its share of global hacking losses has risen from less than 10% in 2020 to 64% in 2025. In the first four months of 2026 alone, North Korean hackers were accused of stealing approximately $577 million, accounting for 76% of global cryptocurrency hacking losses.