Trilateral Cybersecurity Meeting Targets DPRK's Illicit Funding Networks

• •U.S., Japan, and South Korea held a trilateral meeting to combat DPRK cyber threats.
• •The meeting focused on cryptocurrency theft, including significant losses from KelpDAO and Drift Protocol.
• •Participants emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation and awareness of North Korean cyber activities.

On June 25-26, 2026, the U.S., Japan, and South Korea convened in Washington, D.C. to address North Korea's cyber threats, particularly focusing on cryptocurrency theft and laundering. The meeting, involving around 80 officials, aimed to coordinate responses to DPRK-linked cyber activities that finance its weapons programs. Key discussions included the theft of $290 million from KelpDAO and $285 million from Drift Protocol, attributed to North Korean actors. The delegations emphasized the need for enhanced law enforcement cooperation and the importance of raising awareness about these threats globally. They also noted the risks posed by DPRK IT workers utilizing AI in their schemes. The trilateral group plans to implement cooperative measures agreed upon during the meeting to mitigate these cyber threats.