Understanding the Past, Present, and Future of North Korean Cyber Operations

This event explores the rise of North Korea as a cyber power and considers what the future of its operations holds, drawing on participants’ expertise and original research.

The Korea Project, the Cyber Project, the ROK Consulate-General in Boston, and the North Korea Cyber Working Group are co-sponsored this event.

4:00 - 4:15 PM: Opening Session

Welcoming Remarks
John Park (Director, Korea Project, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs)

You Ki-Jun (Consul General, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Boston)

Keynote Remarks

Lauren Zabierek (Executive Director, Cyber Project, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs)

4:15 - 4:25 PM:Presentation: “North Korean Cryptocurrency Operations: An Alternative Revenue Stream”

Heeu Millie Kim (Member, North Korea Cyber Working Group; Research Analyst, Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Georgetown University)

June Lee (Co-Lead, North Korea Cyber Working Group; Program Coordinator, Technology and International Affairs Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

Rachel Paik (Member, North Korea Cyber Working Group; Development and Communications Associate, Council of Korean Americans; Research Committee Member, Sejong Society of Washington, D.C.)

4:25 - 5:10 PM:Panel 1: “North Korea’s Rise as a Cyber Power”

June Lee (Co-Lead, North Korea Cyber Working Group; Program Coordinator, Technology and International Affairs Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

Priscilla Moriuchi (Non-resident Fellow, Korea Project, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs)

Saher Naumaan (Principal Threat Intelligence Analyst, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence)

Kirt Smith (Member, North Korea Cyber Working Group)

Alex O’Neill (Co-Lead, North Korea Cyber Working Group; Associate, Korea Project, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs) – Moderator

5:10 - 5:55 PM:Panel 2: “The Future of North Korean Cyber Operations”

Jenny Jun (Non-resident Fellow, Cyber Statecraft Initiative, Atlantic Council; PhD Candidate, Department of Political Science, Columbia University)

Heeu Millie Kim (Member, North Korea Cyber Working Group; Research Analyst, Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Georgetown University)

Steve Miller (Senior Researcher, Stairwell)

John Park (Director, Korea Project, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs) – Moderator

5:55 - 6:00 PM: Closing Remarks

Alex O’Neill (Co-Lead, North Korea Cyber Working Group; Associate, Korea Project, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs)

June Lee (Co-Lead, North Korea Cyber Working Group; Program Coordinator, Technology and International Affairs Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

North Korean cyber operations represent an important and growing problem for global cybersecurity. This event will explore the rise of North Korea as a cyber power and consider what the future of its operations holds, drawing on participants’ expertise and original research. Following opening remarks, Lauren Zabierek will deliver a keynote address on the evolving global cyber threat landscape. Researchers from the Belfer Center’s North Korea Cyber Working Group will then briefly present their work on North Korea’s increasing reliance on cryptocurrency. After the presentation, two sets of panelists hailing from academia, government, and the private sector will (1) examine the factors that have contributed to the rapid growth of North Korea’s cyber capabilities, and (2) assess Pyongyang’s ongoing evolution in the cyber domain and offer thoughts on how the international community can mitigate the threat.