Japan, S Korea, US concerned over N Korea’s cyber-fundraising

Envoys from the three countries met amid continued weapons tests by the North [Jeon Heon-Kyun/AFP]

The United States, South Korea and Japan have expressed deep concern over what they described as North Korea’s “malicious” cyber-activities in support of its banned weapons programmes.

Cryptocurrency funds stolen by North Korean hackers have been a key source of funding for the country’s weapons programmes, according to the United Nations, with such theft reaching a record last year.