Page 30 - bon-dia-aruba-20220208

A30 world news
Diamars 8 Februari 2022

UN experts: North Korea stealing millions in cyber attacks

technology overseas for its remains able to evade sanc-
A year ago, the panel quoted arsenal including in Iran. tions and to illicitly import
an unidentified country say- refined petroleum, access in-
ing North Korea’s “total theft “Cyberattacks, particularly ternational banking channels
of virtual assets from 2019 to on cryptocurrency assets, re- and carry out “malicious cy-
November 2020 is valued at main an important revenue ber activities.”
approximately $316.4 mil- source” for Kim Jong Un’s
lion.” government, the experts U.N. sanctions ban North
monitoring the implementa- Korean coal exports and the
In the executive summary of tion of sanctions against the experts said in the new report
the new report, the experts North said in the new report. that although coal exports by
said North Korea has contin- sea increased in the second
ued to develop its nuclear and In addition to its recent half of 2021, “they were still
ballistic missile programs. launches, North Korea has at relatively low levels.”
threatened to lift its four-year
“Although no nuclear tests or moratorium on more serious “The quantity of illicit im-
(AP) — North Korea is firm reported that in 2021 the launches of ICBMs were re- weapons tests such as nuclear ports of refined petroleum
continuing to steal hun- North’s “cyber-actors stole a ported, DPRK continued to explosions and launches of increased sharply in the same
dreds of millions of dol- total of $400 million worth develop its capability for pro- intercontinental ballistic mis- period, but at a much lower
lars from financial institu- of cryptocurrency through duction of nuclear fissile ma- siles. level than in previous years,”
tions and cryptocurrency seven intrusions into crypto- terials,” the panel said. Those the panel said, adding that di-
firms and exchanges, il- currency exchanges and in- fissile materials — uranium The Security Council initially rect deliveries by non-North
licit money that is an im- vestment firms.” or plutonium — are crucial imposed sanctions on North Korea tankers has ceased and
portant source of funding for a nuclear reaction. Korea after its first nuclear only tankers from the North
for its nuclear and missile These cyberattacks “made test explosion in 2006 and delivered oil, “a marked
programs, U.N. experts use of phishing lures, code The experts noted “a marked toughened them in response change of methodology”
said in a report quoting exploits, malware, and ad- acceleration” of North Kore- to further nuclear tests and probably in response to CO-
cyber specialists. vanced social engineering an missile launches through the country’s increasingly so- VID-19 measures.
to siphon funds out of these January that used a variety phisticated nuclear and bal-
The panel of experts said that organizations’ internet- of technology and weapons. listic missile programs. The experts said North Ko-
according to an unnamed connected ‘hot’ wallets into The experts said North Ko- rea also continues to evade
government, North Korean DPRK-controlled address- rea “continued to seek mate- The panel of experts said maritime sanctions “by delib-
“cyber-actors stole more than es,” the panel said, using the rial, technology and know- North Korea’s blockade erately obfuscated financial
$50 million between 2020 initials of the country’s of- how for these programs over- aimed at preventing COV- and ownership networks.”
and mid-2021 from at least ficial name, the Democratic seas, including through cyber ID-19 resulted in “historical-
three cryptocurrency ex- People’s Republic of Korea. means and joint scientific ly low levels” of people and While the humanitarian situ-
changes in North America, research.” goods entering and leaving ation in the country contin-
Europe and Asia, probably The cryptocurrency funds the country. Legal and ille- ues to worsen, the panel said
reflecting a shift to diversify stolen by the DPRK cyber A year ago, the panel said gal trade including in luxury the almost complete lack of
its cybercrime operations.” actors “go through a careful North Korea had modern- goods “has largely ceased” information from the coun-
money laundering process in ized its nuclear weapons and though cross-border rail traf- try makes it difficult to de-
And the experts said in the order to be cashed out,”″ the ballistic missiles by flaunting fic resumed in early January, termine the “unintended hu-
report’s section on cyber ac- panel of experts monitoring United Nations sanctions, it said. manitarian consequences of
tivities obtained Sunday by sanctions on North Korea using cyberattacks to help fi- U.N. sanctions affecting the
The Associated Press that an said in the report to the U.N. nance its programs and con- The panel has previously civilian population.”
unidentified cybersecurity Security Council. tinuing to seek material and made clear that North Korea

Former president takes early lead in Costa Rican election

(AP) — A former Costa drigo Chávez of Social Dem- cent public corruption scan- tions much.” and came to vote early,” said
Rican president took an ocratic Progress with 15.6% dals and another surge of 68-year-old retiree Carlos
early lead in Sunday’s na- and former vice president COVID-19 infections. The Supreme Elections Tri- Rodríguez in the capital.
tional election in what had Lineth Saborio for Christian bunal reported good turnout
been a wide-open field of Social Unity with 15%. Any Voting centers were busy across the country. He didn’t share his choice for
25 candidates. of the three could potentially Sunday morning as some president, but said he hoped
face Figueres in the second Costa Ricans tried to beat the “I hoped for fewer people in there would be some sur-
José María Figueres, who was round of voting. typical late day crowds. Lines the morning, because you prises among candidates who
the country’s president from of voters lasted throughout want to avoid the lines, but hadn’t polled particularly
1994 to 1998, had 30.3% of Costa Ricans will also choose the day. Each person had from what I’ve seen a lot of well.
the vote in preliminary re- a new National Assembly to wash their hands, wear a people thought the same
sults released by the Supreme in the elections, which take mask and maintain distance
Elections Tribunal Sunday place days after the country’s inside the polling places.
night with 13% of the votes top prosecutor filed papers
counted. Figueres is the can- seeking to lift outgoing Presi- Karla Delgado, a 34-year-old
didate for the National Lib- dent Alvarado’s immunity so teacher, said the surging in-
eration Party. he can face charges related to fections worried her, but she
the collection of personal in- felt compelled to do her civic
If no candidate captures at formation on citizens. He is duty.
least 40% of the vote, a runoff not eligible to run again.
will be held April 3 between “I think that with a mask and
the top two vote-getters. Pre-elections polls has sug- all being well vaccinated, it’s
gested a large proportion of worth coming out and par-
Figueres was trailed by Fa- the electorate had been unde- ticipating in the democratic
bricio Alvarado, who lost to cided heading into the vote. celebration,” Delgado said. “I
President Carlos Alvarado think the protocols are good
four years ago, with 17.9% for Costa Ricans are frustrated and I hope that all of this
his New Republic party, Ro- by high unemployment, re- doesn’t increase the infec-