Kim Jong Un Allegedly Stole Billions From Bybit to Fund Putin's War in Ukraine

Over the last eight years, at minimum, the U.S. president has made continuous efforts to ensure everyone understands how close he is with Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin. However, as time goes on, this friendship appears increasingly lopsided.

Of course, the Russian may seem fond of Mr. Donald Trump, but he certainly doesn’t hold him in high regard. After all, why should he? This individual consistently undermines himself on the global platform with obvious untruths regarding other leaders daily, primarily targeting President Xi Jinping of China, who is supposedlyPutin’s closest ally.

Putin also has another close confidant whom he might favor slightly over Xi Jinping, as he genuinely appreciates Jinping quite a lot. However, the individual Putin appears most joyful around each time they meet is North Korea’s paramount leader, Mr. Kim Jong Un.

This is where our tale starts.

The riskiest alliance globally

You may recall the well-known visit Putin made to North Korea last year, during which he shared a lengthy ride with Kim in a car that Putin had gifted him. They were seen chatting and laughing together intensely, although I often ponder how they managed to communicate effectively, considering that reportedly, neither speaks the other's language. Check out the details here:

However, it made for an excellent photo opportunity, and afterward, Putin seemed even more intimidating to the rest of his counterparts. Since Biden and NATO were attempting to constrain Putin’s influence, this significant photo session with Kim Jong-un came across as a direct challenge to them.

The writer contends that this particular meeting involved an extensive conversation about military matters among the young participants. Putin required soldiers, armaments, and allegiance for the predicament he initiated in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kim sought assistance of some sort. The financial injection of $1.5 billion courtesy of Bybit’s cryptocurrency reserves ensured his ability to provide what Putin needed.

They concurred that North Korean combatants would appear on Ukrainian soil. Following Russia’s recapture of the Kursk area several days ago, Putin confirmed this development officially.

In a statement issued just the previous day, Putin stated, "Our Korean friends demonstrated solidarity, justice, and true camaraderie." praised Their "bravery, advanced specialized training, and willingness to make sacrifices," noting they battled "side by side" with Russian forces.

As all of this unfolds, the U.S., Ukraine, Europe, and Russia continue to engage in discussions about ceasefires. Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius strongly criticized the American proposals, describing them as "surrender" during an appearance on German television.

Pistorius said Ukraine could have taken that garbage deal a year ago and saved itself a lot of pain. “I cannot discern any added value,” Pistorius said, trashing Trump’s so-called peace offering.

Kim transforms illicit cryptocurrency into weaponry.

As I reported Earlier this month, North Korea's military stopped being funded by coal or taxes. Now, its funding comes from cryptocurrency, which is acquired through a sophisticated cyber army engaged in theft. Lazarus Group The elite hacking unit of North Korea operates at a military level and has stolen over $6 billion worth of cryptocurrency within the last ten years.

This cryptocurrency plunder continues to sustain Kim Jong Un’s regime. Sanctions notwithstanding, they make little difference since he steals his revenue instead. The funding from these cyberheists supports his nuclear arsenal, military forces, and control over North Korea.

Over 8,000 individuals work as dedicated hackers for Kim Jong-un’s regime, operating like disciplined units within an army structure. These aren’t merely geeks; they function akin to combat-ready troops but armed with digital tools instead of conventional weapons. Children displaying aptitude in mathematics or sciences from early ages are singled out for specialized training aimed at cultivating their skills into those of elite cyber warriors. Once chosen, these recruits have no room for outside occupations nor opportunities for career shifts away from this path.

Their lives may appear more comfortable compared to those of an ordinary North Korean, but one mistake can be your downfall. Elma Duval, who co-authored a report with Seoul-based advocacy organization PSCORE, mentioned that ex-IT employees confessed they faced physical penalties for failing. It’s either hack successfully or face beatings—such is the reality, but then again, this is a dictatorship we're talking about.

The former North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, stated before his passing that future conflicts would involve computer warfare. His successor and son, Kim Jong Un, adopted this prediction and developed a comprehensive national strategy around it.

Now, due to the disappearance of $1.5 billion from Bybit and the ongoing activities of the Lazarus Group, Putin’s conflict in Ukraine receives additional funding. Meanwhile, Trump seems likely to keep humbling himself by proudly showcasing his associations with individuals who do not regard him as their peer.