Lazarus Group Steals $200 Million from WazirX, Funding North Korea’s Nuclear Program

North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is no longer funded by traditional means like coal sales or taxes. Instead, it’s receiving funds directly from stolen cryptocurrency, as the Lazarus Group has been implicated in multiple high-profile thefts. On July 18th, 2024, North Korea’s top hacking group, Lazarus Group, reportedly exploited WazirX, India’s largest crypto exchange, to steal over $200 million. This heist was part of a larger pattern of aggressive cybercrime by the group that has earned them notoriety and fueled their country’s nuclear ambitions.