Insikt Group’s analysis shows North Koreans continue to access the internet using foreign technology despite sanctions, including Apple, Samsung, and Huawei devices, as well as social media platforms. The report highlights increased use of VPNs and proxies to evade censorship, signaling greater operational security awareness and sanctions evasion. #InsiktGroup #NorthKorea #VPN #Proxy #Facebook #WeChat
Keypoints
- Foreign technology use persists in North Korea despite sanctions, including Apple, Samsung, and Huawei devices.
- North Koreans access social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WeChat.
- There is a notable rise in obfuscation services usage (VPNs and proxy services) to evade surveillance and censorship.
- Sanctions are undermined by ongoing import of foreign tech through China and Russia partnerships.
- Organizations should perform due diligence on where their products end up to avoid legal/financial risks.
- Russia’s veto against UN sanctions monitoring complicates enforcement and sanctions expansion.
MITRE Techniques
- [T1090] Proxy – VPNs and proxy services used to evade domestic surveillance and censorship. ‘North Koreans are now more frequently using VPNs and proxy services to evade domestic surveillance and censorship.’
- [T1071.001] Web Protocols – Use of Facebook, Instagram, and WeChat to browse content. ‘Facebook, Instagram, and WeChat are commonly used.’
- [T1027] Obfuscated/Compressed Files and Information – Increased use of obfuscation services to evade surveillance. ‘The significant finding from the report is the increased use of obfuscation services.’
Indicators of Compromise
- [Device] North Koreans use Apple devices, Samsung devices, Huawei devices – Apple devices, Samsung devices, and Huawei devices referenced in article
- [Domain] Social media access domains – facebook.com, instagram.com, wechat.com
- [URL] Report PDF – https://go.recordedfuture.com/hubfs/reports/CTA-NK-2024-0718.pdf
- [URL] Original source post – https://www.recordedfuture.com/research/north-koreans-continue-to-use-foreign-technology
Read more: https://www.recordedfuture.com/research/north-koreans-continue-to-use-foreign-technology