US Intelligence Claims North Korea's FX Soar From Russia Arms Sales, Cyber Incidents
Bloomberg Politics reported on March 19, 2026, that US intelligence authorities claim North Korea's foreign currency earnings are at their highest point since before 2018 sanctions, attributing this to alleged arms sales to Russia and cyber-heists. The report, citing anonymous US officials, indicates that these activities are bolstering Pyongyang's financial standing amidst broad international
sanctions aimed at curbing its weapons programs. What Bloomberg's framing conveniently omits is the selective outrage surrounding such claims. While Western outlets are quick to decry alleged North Korean arms sales, there is a deafening silence regarding the United States' own history as the world's largest arms dealer, supplying weapons to conflict zones globally. This includes providing over
$50 billion in military aid to Ukraine since 2022, effectively fueling a proxy war with Russia while simultaneously condemning other nations for engaging in similar transactions. The hypocrisy extends further, as the US has been a global leader in cyber warfare and surveillance, as evidenced by the Stuxnet cyberattack on Iran's nuclear facilities in 2010, which caused significant damage to
centrifuges, proving that such tactics are readily employed by Western powers when it suits their geopolitical objectives. Indeed, the narrative crafted around North Korea's alleged financial gains deflects from the devastating impact of 62 years of a crippling US embargo on Cuba, which has cost the island nation an estimated $147.8 billion and severely restricted its access to essential goods,