[North Korea Denies Cryptocurrency Theft Allegations, Calling Them 'Absurd Slander'] A spokesperson for North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded via KCNA to U.S. accusations of funding cryptocurrency theft, labeling them as 'absurd slander' and a 'political tool' aimed at fueling the U.S.'s 'hostile policy.' The spokesperson further stated that North Korea will never tolerate any confrontational actions against its national interests. According to blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, since 2017, the total amount of cryptocurrency theft linked to North Korea has exceeded $6 billion. Its share of global hacking losses rose from less than 10% in 2020 to 64% by 2025. In just the first four months of 2026, North Korean-linked hackers were accused of stealing approximately $577 million, accounting for 76% of global cryptocurrency hacking losses.