Kim Jong Un Flouted Sanctions to Amass $22 Billion Windfall

[zasad@]

According to Bloomberg estimates, North Korea received up to $22 billion in foreign currency between 2022 and 2025, almost four times more than in the previous four years.
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-north-korea-windfall
Crypto Headlines AI:
"One of the sources of funding for the North Korean regime is large-scale cryptocurrency hacks:

➥ North Korean hackers systematically attack crypto exchanges and WEB3 projects. According to TRM Labs, in the first half of 2026, North Korea accounted for approximately 66% of the value of all cryptocurrency stolen in the crypto industry.

➥ Stolen assets are laundered, including through Chinese criminal networks, after which the funds can be used to finance the state.

➥ Cryptocurrency hacks have become especially important due to sanctions, which have virtually cut off North Korea from the international banking system."

[BABY SHOES]

Bybit also filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal Court, for losses suffered by bybit about $1.5 billion by hacking Lazarus some time ago... The exchange was only able to recover $48.4 million, $30 million successfully frozen the rest is still unclear and may have been enjoyed by a group of Lazarus.

North Korea is a closed country with very tight security, some countries do not dare to intervene, what about the violation or lawsuit filed by Bybit will this work? Will the US federation take direct action against North Korea itself?

I think it's a waste to go to Kim Jong Un's country. [1] https://www.bybit.com/en/press/post/bybit-sues-north-korea-and-lazarus-group-secures-preliminary-injunction-freezing-stolen-assets-in-landmark-crypto-asset-recovery-effort-bb55bb16f1710f487aa

[MarryWithBTC]

xxx
North Korea is a closed country with very tight security, some countries do not dare to intervene, what about the violation or lawsuit filed by Bybit will this work? Will the US federation take direct action against North Korea itself?

I think it's a waste to go to Kim Jong Un's country. [1] https://www.bybit.com/en/press/post/bybit-sues-north-korea-and-lazarus-group-secures-preliminary-injunction-freezing-stolen-assets-in-landmark-crypto-asset-recovery-effort-bb55bb16f1710f487aa

The whole world has been anticipating US and North Korea crash. Many people make meme with it on social media. I pray this should not start from crypto.

I am pretty sure Trump is not going in for this, he choses his battle carefully.

[zasad@]

xxx
North Korea is a closed country with very tight security, some countries do not dare to intervene, what about the violation or lawsuit filed by Bybit will this work? Will the US federation take direct action against North Korea itself?

I think it's a waste to go to Kim Jong Un's country. [1] https://www.bybit.com/en/press/post/bybit-sues-north-korea-and-lazarus-group-secures-preliminary-injunction-freezing-stolen-assets-in-landmark-crypto-asset-recovery-effort-bb55bb16f1710f487aa

The whole world has been anticipating US and North Korea crash. Many people make meme with it on social media. I pray this should not start from crypto.

I am pretty sure Trump is not going in for this, he choses his battle carefully.

After the failure in Iran, no one will give Trump the right to start a war with North Korea, given that the country has nuclear weapons.

I think the US will act only through sanctions and other political and economic means, not military force.

[Z-tight]

"One of the sources of funding for the North Korean regime is large-scale cryptocurrency hacks:

➥ North Korean hackers systematically attack crypto exchanges and WEB3 projects. According to TRM Labs, in the first half of 2026, North Korea accounted for approximately 66% of the value of all cryptocurrency stolen in the crypto industry.

Lol, all of these is what the U.S. and the West want the world to believe, that nearly all of the high-profile cryptocurrency hacks that have happened in recent times have been perpetrated by North Korea. Crazy part is that there is no solid proof of this. North Korea is more like an easy target. I mean, they are run by a dictator, so it is not like they care about defending themselves, neither do the accusations hurt them any more than the sanctions they face do.

[Zlantann]

North Korea is a closed country with very tight security, some countries do not dare to intervene, what about the violation or lawsuit filed by Bybit will this work? Will the US federation take direct action against North Korea itself?

If a court gives a judgment against North Korea, it could be enforced. This could be done by seizing and auctioning any asset connected to North Korea and using the proceeds to pay compensation to the plaintiff (Bybit in this case).  

Lol, all of these is what the U.S. and the West want the world to believe, that nearly all of the high-profile cryptocurrency hacks that have happened in recent times have been perpetrated by North Korea. Crazy part is that there is no solid proof of this. North Korea is more like an easy target. I mean, they are run by a dictator, so it is not like they care about defending themselves, neither do the accusations hurt them any more than the sanctions they face do.

Western investigators believe that these hackers come from North Korea through network signatures (such as Internet Protocol (IP) routing, server nodes, etc), blockchain analysis, trade records, and satellite images to track the movement of funds. But all these means are not certain. I concur with the assumption that not all these hacks are done by North Korea.

[BABY SHOES]

I think the US will act only through sanctions and other political and economic means, not military force.

The U.S. has long imposed political and economic sanctions on North Korea, but until now they have stood by while possessing routine and deadly nuclear weapons.
[1] https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/sanctions-by-the-numbers-north-korea
With military force or impose an embargo, the US will not act just like that.

If a court gives a judgment against North Korea, it could be enforced. This could be done by seizing and auctioning any asset connected to North Korea and using the proceeds to pay compensation to the plaintiff (Bybit in this case).  

How do you dispose of these assets if they are not in the U.S.? For North Korean citizens individually or diplomatically the US has completely banned... The only thing that can be done is to arrest directly like the president of Venezuela, only it is not possible.

[MarryWithBTC]

After the failure in Iran, no one will give Trump the right to start a war with North Korea, given that the country has nuclear weapons.

I think the US will act only through sanctions and other political and economic means, not military force.

Very true, US will never dare military force on Kim as US allies will be reluctant to give support. The chaos will largely be polarized. US will have to tighten sanctions and hope things go well.

North Korea is a closed country with very tight security, some countries do not dare to intervene, what about the violation or lawsuit filed by Bybit will this work? Will the US federation take direct action against North Korea itself?

If a court gives a judgment against North Korea, it could be enforced. This could be done by seizing and auctioning any asset connected to North Korea and using the proceeds to pay compensation to the plaintiff (Bybit in this case).   

How will you be able to seize an asset that isn't in your jurisdiction?

This case is not as simple as it seem and both parties will gradually die it off.

[Zlantann]

How will you be able to seize an asset that isn't in your jurisdiction?

This case is not as simple as it seem and both parties will gradually die it off.

Hope you follow up on football because I want to use it as an example. How did Roman Abramovich lose ownership of Chelsea? The UK government seized the club at the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Iran and North Korea have assets and funds in Western countries that have been seized. These Western nations also have bilateral agreements or are members of organizations that give them the right to confiscate money on behalf of member countries. So a US court can give a judgment regarding an asset or money of a nation, and the government of the UK or some European countries would enforce the court decision.