North Korea establishes AI hacking unit for cyber operations

North Korea is starting a new cybersecurity unit called Research Center 227. This group will operate under the intelligence agency known as the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB). According to a recent report, Research Center 227 will focus on creating offensive hacking technologies. The goal is to strengthen North Korea's abilities to steal digital assets and to develop AI methods for information theft. The report cites a source inside the North Korean government. It mentions that the new unit will study Western cybersecurity systems and computer networks. Additionally, it will help to coordinate with North Korean hacking teams abroad. North Korean hackers have become notorious for attacking cryptocurrency exchanges and other companies worldwide. For instance, they were recently involved in a major hack that stole $1.4 billion from Bybit. Both the U.S. National Security Agency and the FBI have accused the RGB of engaging in hacking and espionage.