South Korea, the United States, and Japan have jointly called for stronger international efforts to ban North Korea from sending workers abroad and to curb the country’s increasing cybercrimes, as part of measures to block Pyongyang’s access to funds that finance its nuclear weapons program.
This appeal came after the top nuclear envoys from the three nations convened in Seoul on Friday for their first meeting in four months, discussing the growing threat posed by North Korea’s expanding nuclear arsenal. Recent weapons tests by the North demonstrate the regime’s determination to develop more advanced missiles targeting the United States and its allies, making the possibility of returning to denuclearization talks increasingly unlikely.
North Korea’s Weapons Financing
Despite 11 rounds of United Nations (UN) sanctions and economic difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea continues to allocate much of its limited resources to nuclear and missile development. Experts believe that in addition to domestic sources, North Korea’s weapons program is funded through illegal cyber activities, including cryptocurrency theft, as well as wages sent by North Korean workers stationed abroad. These workers remain in countries like China and Russia, even though a UN resolution mandated their repatriation by the end of 2019.
In a joint statement, the South Korean, U.S., and Japanese envoys urged the global community to strictly implement UN resolutions that prohibit North Korea from sending laborers overseas. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that many North Korean workers are still engaged in economic activities worldwide and sending money back to support Pyongyang’s weapons programs. The ministry also highlighted concerns that North Korea may further reopen its borders, as the global COVID-19 situation improves, potentially enabling the dispatch of more workers abroad.
Cybercrime and Illicit Activities
Kim Gunn, South Korea’s envoy to the talks, stressed the importance of ensuring that North Korea’s provocations do not go unpunished. “We will effectively counter North Korea’s future provocations and cut their revenue streams that fund these illegal activities,” he said during televised remarks at the start of the meeting. U.S. envoy Sung Kim echoed these sentiments, noting that North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, combined with its “malicious cyber program that targets countries and individuals around the globe,” pose a significant threat to the security and prosperity of the international community.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reported in December that North Korean hackers had stolen approximately 1.5 trillion won (USD 1.2 billion) in cryptocurrency and other virtual assets over the past five years. Over half of this amount was stolen in the past year alone. The agency also noted that North Korea’s cybercrime capabilities are among the most advanced in the world, as the regime has focused on digital thefts to counterbalance the impact of UN economic sanctions imposed since 2017 in response to its nuclear and missile tests.
Regional Security Concerns
Friday’s trilateral meeting is expected to provoke North Korea, which has previously warned that increased security cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan would force it to strengthen its military capabilities. Pyongyang has long argued that UN sanctions and U.S.-led military exercises in the region demonstrate Washington’s hostile intent. The regime insists that its nuclear weapons development is necessary to defend itself against perceived U.S. threats, despite repeated assurances from U.S. and South Korean officials that they have no intention of invading the North.
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Earlier this week, the U.S. conducted anti-submarine naval drills with South Korean and Japanese forces, marking the first such training in six months. In a separate exercise, U.S. nuclear-capable bombers participated in bilateral aerial drills with South Korean warplanes. Though North Korea has not yet responded to these exercises with weapons tests, the regime launched a series of missile tests last month to protest joint military training between South Korea and the U.S., which it views as a rehearsal for invasion.
Concerns of a Nuclear Test
There are growing concerns that North Korea may soon conduct its first nuclear test in over five years, following the unveiling of a new type of nuclear warhead last week. While foreign experts debate whether the regime has successfully developed miniaturized warheads capable of being mounted on missiles, North Korea’s relentless pursuit of nuclear and missile technology continues to heighten tensions in the region.
As the international community weighs its response to North Korea’s defiance, South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are urging stronger enforcement of UN sanctions, particularly those targeting North Korean laborers abroad, and intensified efforts to counter the regime’s illicit cyber activities, both of which play a critical role in financing Pyongyang’s weapons programs.
