From Schools to Cyberwarfare: How Kim Jong-un Trains His Hackers

7th April 2025

3 minutes read

From Schools to Cyberwarfare: How Kim Jong-un Trains His Hackers

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has established an advanced system to train the world’s best hackers—starting as early as age five.

According to a report by the British newspaper The Sun, these gifted children are selected from elementary schools and transferred to specialized institutions in Pyongyang, where they learn to launch devastating cyberattacks targeting the West.

This system is part of a broader strategy to enhance North Korea’s cyber capabilities and generate financial revenue through cyberattacks, especially under the pressure of international sanctions imposed on the country.

The process begins with identifying talented students in science and mathematics in primary schools. These students are then funneled through a hierarchical system into specialized schools in Pyongyang.

Kim Among Schoolchildren

These schools are considered among the best in the country and provide a unique learning environment focused on developing technology and programming skills. The students continue their education at top-tier technical universities like Kim Il-sung University and Kim Chaek University of Technology, where they study the latest in computing and programming technologies.

From Isolation to the Virtual World: The Secret Training Journey

After graduation, these hackers are sent to China or Russia for about a year to acquire practical hacking skills and techniques needed to target the West. This step is crucial as it provides them with their first exposure to the global Internet, which is typically unavailable in North Korea.

North Korean citizens only have access to a secure internal network called Kwangmyong, which hosts selected news websites filled with propaganda about the Supreme Leader’s achievements. This is part of the regime’s effort to restrict available information and divert citizens’ attention from the outside world.

Ensuring Loyalty: Privileges and Pride

Loyalty is meticulously reinforced throughout the training process.

Upon completion of training, these hackers are assigned to various warfare units under the “Cyber Warfare” division. They receive perks such as housing opportunities, food aid, and generous salaries during overseas missions.

This is part of a strategy to secure their loyalty to the regime by ensuring a higher standard of living for them and their families, which strengthens their allegiance.

The Lazarus Group

The Lazarus Group is one of North Korea’s most infamous hacking units, accused of stealing $1.2 billion in the largest cryptocurrency theft in history.

It is believed that Lazarus is not a single unit but a network of electronic groups operating independently with overlapping goals.

This strategy forms part of North Korea’s efforts to enhance its electronic warfare capabilities and generate income through cyberattacks, particularly under international sanctions. These attacks are believed to significantly fund the country’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

An international investigation in 2022 revealed that cyberattacks are a major source of funding for North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. It is estimated that the country has raised over $2 billion through such operations, raising serious concerns over how to counter these cyber threats.

As North Korea continues to advance its cyber capabilities, it becomes increasingly difficult for the West to effectively counter these attacks—especially with a new generation of hackers trained from a very young age.