North Korean hackers stealing military secrets, say U.S. and allies

all us know there is no internet in DPRK...so what "hacking"?

all us know there is no internet in DPRK...so what "hacking"?

That isn't true. There is internet. Access is provided to the 0.01% at the top and to their hacking teams. The connections go through China and also through Russia. They added the Russian link around 2017.

If any military contractor is putting classified materials on a system that isn't air gapped, they need a complete IT overhaul. I know that NASA doesn't. Their classified systems are all air gapped with well controlled access. Only a few people can transfer files, programs, data, into the classified systems and only after being scanned and archived to tape first. There are plenty of signatures for everything that goes in and out.

There's lots of unclassified data on these systems too. I suppose the issue is when people get lazy and allow statements in unclassified documents that lead to conclusions about classified programs. It can be hard when work applies to both types of systems.

I suspect most of the things NK would want from NASA would be related to GN&C for missiles. That stuff is covered under ITAR restrictions, but not usually classified, if used in non-DoD systems.

When you know your govt will never turn you over to other govts for anything illegal, that frees you up to do all sorts of nasty things. Of course, NK has lots of need from their hacking teams. They need hard currency. They need information of all sorts from simple waste management, to health care best practices and drug recommendations, to optimized nuclear detonation plans and everything in between. What they really need is how to raise more crops, more efficiently, so NKs aren't always on the edge of starving every few years.