SEOUL — Someone managed to pull off the world's biggest cryptocurrency heist last month, and surprise, surprise, the North Koreans might be involved.<br /><br />Reuters reports that on January 26, $530 million worth of virtual coins were stolen from Tokyo cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck, affecting 260,000 customers.<br /><br />South Korea's National Intelligence Agency told lawmakers on Monday that it's possible North Korean hackers are behind the theft.<br /><br />It probably isn't the reclusive regime's first crypto crime either, as they're believed to have masterminded quite a number of attacks in recent years, according to Bloomberg.<br /><br />UN Sanctions blocking the North's exports have led to a trade deficit, and experts believe the pariah state is turning to cryptocurrency to get cash.<br /><br />Pyongyang hackers had previously targeted the South's cryptocurrency exchanges in 2017, reportedly stealing 26 billion won through malicious codes in emails and bogus forms.<br /><br />South Korea currently has no evidence to prove the North's involvement, but is now working with international authorities to look into the incident.
