An elite North Korean cyberwarfare team hacked into the computer systems of a Russian missile designer, gaining access to key plans for about five months, and apparently lifting design specs that helped boost its own missile program, Reuters reports.
Dubbed ScarCruft and Lazarus by cybersecurity experts, the North Korean teams were able to infiltrate the NPO Mashinostroyeniya defense technology company. Months later, North Korea announced it has itself developed technologies for its missile systems similar to what NPO Mashinostroyeniya had.
The situation gets a little sticky when you consider Russia and North Korea are actively seeking ways to increase trade between the two countries. North Korea needs food; Russia needs ammunition. And they’ve already held high-level talks about increasing their trade.