North Korea has strengthened its intelligence by creating a new cyber warfare unit – the Research Center 227, which is part of the Intelligence Bureau of the General Staff, as reported by the specialeurasia.
The center is developing cyberattack technologies using artificial intelligence (AI), aimed at espionage, financial theft, and disrupting network operations. Initially, 90 specialists will work in the division, and its task is to automate intelligence gathering and expand the country's cyber capabilities.
The establishment of the center has become a strategic step for Pyongyang, which poses a threat to financial institutions, critical infrastructure, and government agencies worldwide. North Korea has long used cyberattacks to achieve its goals, including the illegal acquisition of financial resources. Since 2017, it has been attributed with 58 such attacks, bringing in about 3 billion dollars.
The new center institutionalizes cyber warfare, using AI to write malicious code, bypass cybersecurity systems, and automatically control hacked networks. This will allow North Korean hackers to adapt more quickly to new defenses and conduct attacks more effectively. Special attention is given to the development of tools for hacking banks and cryptocurrency platforms, which will help the regime bypass international sanctions.
The center operates 24/7, which increases North Korea's resilience in cyberspace and complicates the fight against its hackers. However, the use of AI in cyber warfare poses risks not only to individual companies but also to national security, financial stability, and critical infrastructure in various countries.
Given the growth of North Korea's cyber capabilities, the international community is forced to seek new methods of protection, strengthen cybersecurity cooperation, and develop effective countermeasures to prevent potential threats.
