North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has initiated the formation of “Research Center 227” within the military’s Reconnaissance General Bureau to delve into and advance international cyber hacking technologies. Sources within North Korea have relayed that in late February, the Supreme Commander instructed the RGB under the General Staff Department to heighten overseas information warfare capabilities, which included the establishment of Research Center 227 dedicated to hacking technology research.
The efforts to set up this research center officially commenced on March 9 following the order transmitted from the Operations Bureau to the RGB staff department. It is important to note that this center is distinct from the existing institutes under the RGB, with its location in Mangyongdae District separate from the RGB headquarters in Pyongyang’s Hyongjesan District.
While there is a prevalent belief within the RGB that the primary focus of Research Center 227 is to boost foreign intelligence collection, insiders suggest that its main objective lies in the development of offensive hacking technologies and programs rather than information gathering. The center seems poised to target Western countries’ cybersecurity systems, with intentions to steal valuable information and assets, disrupt computer networks, and neutralize security networks through advanced technological means.
The core missions of Research Center 227 include studying techniques for security network neutralization, AI-based information theft technologies, financial asset hacking, and setting up automated programs for information collection and analysis. North Korean authorities are gearing up to operate the center 24/7 to promptly respond to real-time data from RGB hacking groups deployed overseas, while channeling resources and manpower towards crafting sophisticated hacking programs.
In the quest to pioneer Research Center 227, the RGB is in the process of selecting around 90 computer experts who excelled in program development, automation systems, or information security from reputable universities and doctoral programs. These individuals are not cyber warriors engaged in direct information warfare operations abroad but internal research personnel tasked with the development of offensive programs. With the establishment of Research Center 227, the RGB’s cyber capabilities are expected to witness significant enhancement in the future, as emphasized by the sources.
The strategic move by North Korean authorities to establish Research Center 227 underscores their commitment to bolstering their cyber warfare capabilities, signaling a potential escalation in their cyber activities on the international stage. This development raises concerns among Western nations regarding the security of their networks and the looming threat of cyber attacks orchestrated by North Korea. As the world navigates the evolving landscape of cyber warfare, the emergence of Research Center 227 sheds light on North Korea’s ambitions in the realm of hacking technologies and their potential implications on global cybersecurity.