United States: North Korea’s alleged support of its prohibited weapons programs through “malicious” cyber activities has raised significant concerns among the United States, South Korea, and Japan.

Last year, the United Nations reported that funds stolen through cryptocurrency by North Korean hackers had become a major source of financing for the country’s weapons programs, and the amount of such theft had hit a record high.

During the current week, Mr. Kim Gunn, who is South Korea’s representative, had discussions with his counterparts from the US and Japan, where he expressed his disapproval of North Korea’s ongoing weapons tests.

As per Japan’s foreign ministry, the Japanese representative also vehemently criticized North Korea’s missile launches for their unprecedented frequency and manner, highlighting them as a severe and immediate menace to regional security. Additionally, Japan has extended its trade embargo on North Korea for two more years, with some exceptions for humanitarian purposes.

Since March, the US and South Korea have been carrying out a sequence of yearly spring exercises, which consist of air and sea maneuvers, along with their first significant amphibious landing drills in half a decade. The exercises have drawn a strong rebuke from North Korea, which accuses the US and South Korea of using them as a practice for a potential invasion.

As a reaction, North Korea has revealed its latest development of smaller nuclear warheads and launched an intercontinental ballistic missile that can target any location within the United States. Moreover, it has conducted a test of an underwater attack drone, which it claims to be nuclear-capable.

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