North Korea Denies FBI Allegations Linking Pyongyang to $6 Billion Binance Crypto Heist

North Korea on Tuesday rejected US allegations that it was behind the theft of $6 billion from cryptocurrency exchange Binance, with Kim Jong Un’s influential sister, Kim Yo Jong, describing the FBI’s claims as a “grave political provocation.”

In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim dismissed the allegations as “absurd rhetoric,” accusing Washington of attempting to portray North Korea as responsible for cybercrimes worldwide.

The FBI said on Saturday that a North Korea-linked hacking group known as TraderTraitor was responsible for the massive cryptocurrency theft.

The group has also been blamed for the $1.5 billion hack of cryptocurrency platform Bybit in February last year, previously considered the largest cryptocurrency theft on record.

Kim accused Washington of attempting to damage North Korea’s international reputation and undermine its national sovereignty.

She said the allegations reflected what she described as the United States’ continued hostile policy toward Pyongyang. Kim also reiterated that North Korea opposed malicious activities in cyberspace.

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by daily trading volume, has been at the centre of the latest cyberattack. News of the incident triggered a sharp decline in prices across major cryptocurrencies on Friday.

However, US President Donald Trump expressed uncertainty about North Korea’s involvement when questioned by reporters at his Florida residence on Saturday.

“I’m not concerned. We’re learning about it. We don’t know if it’s North Korea,” Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in engaging with North Korea since returning to the White House and has indicated that he would be open to meeting its leader, Kim Jong Un, this year.

Pyongyang has yet to respond positively to those overtures.

Kim Yo Jong said the latest US allegations had once again demonstrated Washington’s hostile approach toward North Korea, adding that Pyongyang had issues to reconsider regarding its relations with the United States.