North Korea is certainly not the best place in the world to live. The increasing repression and restriction of freedoms combined with the humanitarian crisis, creates a hell on earth for the inhabitants of this Asian country. However, for 99% of North Koreans, their lives may be a torture, but the same does not seem to be true for some citizens of special category and treatment, such as… hackers who serve the regime!
According to Jang Se-yul, a computer engineer who defected to South Korea six years ago, the Pyongyang regime "spoils" hackers, who, unlike ordinary North Koreans, live lavishly by the regime's standards.
Specifically, the regime ensures that they secure ultra-luxury apartments in the most expensive areas of the North Korean capital, while they are said to be so financially independent that they can pay to move their entire family to live with them. In fact, North Koreans believe that joining the ranks of enlisted hackers and working in the service of the government is a supreme honor and a sign of recognition among the elite.
Of course, it is worth mentioning that the reason why North Korean hackers live a life like kings is also due to the fact that the government wants to prevent the risk of its cyber-soldiers defecting to South Korea (which often looks like… El Dorado for oppressed North Koreans).
North Korea has been linked to dozens of cyberattacks in the past, mainly against its arch-rival South Korea, but also against American targets. In fact, many have linked Pyongyang to the recent attack on Sony Pictures' network.
Source: digitallife.gr
