New Evidence Points to Direct Russia–North Korea Cyber Partnership
Researchers have discovered a new level of cooperation between Russian and North Korean state-sponsored cyber groups.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Politico.
New research has shown that the Russian group Gamaredon and the North Korean group Lazarus are actively sharing resources and using shared infrastructure to carry out sophisticated cyberattacks.
Gen Digital experts have identified overlapping tactics and even the use of the same server for malware by both groups, which is unprecedented for state-sponsored cybercriminals.
Gamaredon, linked to Russia's FSB, has been targeting Ukrainian government networks for intelligence gathering since the invasion began in 2022, while Lazarus is known for espionage operations and financially motivated cybercrimes, including cryptocurrency theft that is an important source of income for North Korea.
Analysts note that such interaction indicates possible direct cooperation between the groups or that one is deliberately imitating the methods of the other.
This discovery indicates a high level of coordination between Moscow and Pyongyang in cyberattacks, highlighting new threats to international cybersecurity and the need to strengthen defensive measures.
Russia and North Korea are coordinating their actions more and more closely, creating a new axis of cooperation in the war against Ukraine.
In recent months, high-level talks have been held between the military and political structures of both countries, during which ways to deepen cooperation and exchange experience were discussed. The visit of Russian Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremikin to Pyongyang was the first of its kind and took place amid reports of additional North Korean military contingents being transferred to Russia.
North Korea is also a key supplier of ammunition to Russia, providing up to half of its artillery shell requirements, as well as supplying missile systems and launchers. On top of that, Moscow plans to bring in about 12,000 North Korean workers to make drones in Tatarstan, which are used to attack Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.
Besides material support, Pyongyang also provides combat personnel. Its units are involved in reconnaissance and fire correction for Russian troops using drones on the front lines in the Sumy region. Ukrainian intelligence has confirmed that North Korean operators are actively coordinating strikes and helping to increase the effectiveness of Russian offensive operations.
As The Gaze reported earlier, North Korea has begun construction of a museum in Pyongyang dedicated to its soldiers who fought alongside Russia against Ukraine, glorifying their actions as heroic deeds outside the country.
Read more on The Gaze: Kremlin’s Foreign Legion: North Korea’s Role in Russia’s War and the New Global Divide