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North Korea's Workers' Party Vice Department Director Kim Yo-jong has denied the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's announcement that North Korea is behind the cryptocurrency theft resulting from the Binance hacking. Kim claimed that the United States is making a political provocation, even suggesting that the U.S. itself could be behind the incident.

Reporter Jung Hye-jin has the details.

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North Korea's Workers' Party Vice Department Director Kim Yo-jong issued a statement a short while ago claiming that the incident in which the U.S. cryptocurrency exchange Binance suffered losses and had virtual assets stolen was a "stereotyped provocation by the U.S. linking it to us."

Regarding the FBI pointing to North Korea as the culprit, she strongly denied the claim as "absurd fabrication," arguing that the U.S. is attempting to slander them as a cybercrime state.

This marks North Korea's first reaction since the Binance cryptocurrency theft incident.

Kim argued that whenever a cybercrime incident occurs, the U.S. tries to associate it with them and spread a false perception of North Korea, while also mentioning last year's Bybit hacking incident in which North Korean involvement was alleged.

Kim went on to suggest the U.S. as the potential mastermind behind the latest theft.

She claimed that last year the U.S. administration announced plans to confiscate illicitly stolen virtual assets, adding that if one considers who would directly benefit if a massive sum is recovered, clues to the culprit will emerge.

Kim added that on this occasion, she has reaffirmed Washington's hostile stance toward North Korea, is closely monitoring it, and feels extremely displeased.

She continued by stating that there would be matters to reconsider regarding the hostile attitude of the U.S. toward North Korea from various aspects.

(Video Editing: Park Choon-bae)