Korean CEX employee mediates leak of military secrets with Bitcoin bribe — sentenced to 4 years in prison

On December 30, 2025, PANews cited reports from DL News to announce a shocking judicial ruling. The Supreme Court of South Korea upheld a four-year prison sentence for an employee of a cryptocurrency exchange who collaborated with North Korea’s cyber forces to facilitate the leakage of military secrets. This case has become a symbolic example of how digital assets can be exploited as threats to national security.

Illegal Conspiracy Between North Korean Hackers and South Korean Exchange Employees

According to investigations, North Korea’s cyber attack group contacted an employee of the exchange to bribe a South Korean Army captain. North Korea offered the employee Bitcoin worth approximately $487,000, and in return, the employee paid a military officer a Bitcoin reward of $33,500. This was a clever transfer of funds exploiting the anonymity of cryptocurrencies, and because traditional bank transfers are traceable, blockchain-based payments were chosen.

Methods of Stealing Military Secrets—Concealment Devices and Hacking Tools

North Korea’s hacker group not only offered monetary incentives but also provided technical support. During the investigation, it was revealed that a wristwatch-shaped hidden camera and a USB hacking device for integration into military laptops were supplied to the officer. The clear objective was to secure remote access to the Korea-U.S. joint command and control system. However, this intrusion attempt was detected and ultimately failed. Detailed post-attack analysis revealed that North Korea’s attack group was deploying a multi-stage operation through the employee.

Judicial Ruling and Violation of National Security Law

The Supreme Court of South Korea found the employee guilty of violating the National Security Law, noting that his actions could jeopardize the fundamental security of the state. At the same time, the military officer was separately sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined for violating the Military Secret Protection Law. Due to the dual violations of laws and the direct threat to national defense, both received severe punishments. This case highlights how the high liquidity of digital assets can increase the trading price of state secrets, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen cybersecurity and financial regulations in the future.