[Anchor]

The fallout is growing over a massive cryptocurrency theft amounting to roughly 8 trillion won stolen from the world's largest crypto exchange by the North Korean hacker organization "Trader Traitor." We conducted an exclusive interview with the North Korean specialist investigator from the U.S. analytics firm that first pointed to North Korea as the mastermind behind the incident. The investigator warned that this group comprises North Korea's most dangerous hackers and that South Korean exchanges will be their next target.

First, here is an exclusive report by reporter Hong Yeongjae.

[Reporter]

The U.S. analytics firm TRM Labs identified North Korea as the culprit just six hours after the Binance hack.

The North Korean specialist investigator who led the analysis agreed to a video interview with SBS.

Investigator Carlson, who spent 12 years working at the FBI, stated that "Trader Traitor," the perpetrator of this incident, is North Korea's most dangerous hacking organization.


[Nick Carlson / North Korea Specialist Investigator at TRM Labs: "Trader Traitor" is North Korea's elite hacking organization. (Are they more dangerous than other groups within "Kimsuky" or "Lazarus"?) Absolutely. They are at the apex of the pyramid, and by far the most dangerous hacking unit. They have carried out the most audacious financial asset thefts.]

He analyzed that because North Korean hacking groups have no fear of being arrested, they left their own distinct signatures everywhere this time as well.

[Nick Carlson / North Korea Specialist Investigator at TRM Labs: Basically, they conducted a few test transactions for the hack. Furthermore, we identified much older activities connected to these transactions. The traces date back to 2020.]

He also mentioned that while there is more definitive evidence, it is difficult to disclose further details as it could allow North Korea to evade detection.

[Nick Carlson / North Korea Specialist Investigator at TRM Labs: We have secured multiple pieces of evidence confirming that Trader Traitor executed this hack. However, I do not want to explain in too much detail because I do not want to teach North Korean hackers how to avoid detection.]

He then warned that South Korean exchanges could become the next targets of attack.

[Nick Carlson / North Korea Specialist Investigator at TRM Labs: Every exchange could be a target, but I believe South Korean exchanges in particular are major targets.]

Investigator Carlson added that unless South Korea, the U.S., and Japan step up with more proactive measures, this problem will continue to grow.

(Camera reporting: Lee Chansu, Video editing: Seeun, VJ: Lee Jihwan)

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[Anchor]

It has been found that North Korean hackers are currently working to convert the massive amounts of stolen cryptocurrency into cash. The investigator we interviewed noted that Chinese criminal organizations are handling this laundering process on their behalf, urging the Chinese government to put a stop to it.

Next is an exclusive report by reporter Seunghun.

[Reporter]

Investigator Nick Carlson stated that North Korea appears to have entrusted Chinese organizations with laundering the hacked cryptocurrency.

[Nick Carlson / North Korea Specialist Investigator at TRM Labs: Simply put, North Korea steals the money, and Chinese criminal organizations launder it on their behalf in exchange for a fee.]

He cited the fact that North Korean hacker organizations and Chinese criminal syndicates have been cooperating over the past several years.

The hacked cryptocurrency is being split into such small amounts at this very moment, moving across numerous electronic wallets to be laundered.

Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis stated that over 1,000 electronic wallet addresses were mobilized to move more than 500 million dollars in cryptocurrency.

It is analyzed that these organizations even utilize artificial intelligence for money laundering to select the fastest and safest methods.

Investigator Carlson expressed confidence that they are tracking which Chinese organizations were involved and will soon be able to secure information.

[Nick Carlson / North Korea Specialist Investigator at TRM Labs: We are quite confident that we will secure meaningful information about the Chinese individuals involved in the money laundering.]

Investigator Carlson emphasized that only the Chinese government can stop this money laundering operation.

[Nick Carlson / North Korea Specialist Investigator at TRM Labs: I hope the Chinese government takes this issue seriously this time, because they have not done so in the past.]

Observers point out that without substantive cooperation from China, it will be difficult to cut off North Korea's funding lifeline.

(Video editing: Choi Hyeran, Design: JUNHO, VJ: Lee Jihwan)