The dark web—a hidden layer of the internet accessible only through encrypted browsers like Tor—offers a haven for anonymous communication and transactions. While it hosts legitimate privacy-focused platforms, it is also a known hub for illegal activity, from drug trafficking to arms sales. For North Korea, it has become a vital tool in its sanctions-evasion strategy.
Cybercriminals for the State
Investigations show that North Korean cyber operatives frequently use the dark web to launder cryptocurrency stolen in high-profile hacks. Once digital assets are obtained—often through spear-phishing campaigns or exploiting vulnerabilities in financial systems—they are mixed and traded on anonymous marketplaces, obscuring their origin and allowing the regime to convert them into hard currency.
“The dark web enables North Korean hackers to sell stolen data, buy infrastructure, and move funds without easy traceability,” said a senior analyst at a South Korean cybersecurity firm. “It’s become a key node in their digital economy.”
These operatives, many believed to be part of the Lazarus Group, also use dark web forums to acquire malware, ransomware toolkits, and even access to compromised networks. Some also impersonate IT freelancers, offering their services on gig platforms accessible via the dark web to earn foreign currency under false identities.
Arms, Drugs, and Fake IDs
Beyond cybercrime, North Korea is suspected of using the dark web for more traditional forms of smuggling. According to a confidential UN report reviewed by several news agencies, North Korean-linked actors have engaged in the sale of small arms, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and forged documents on encrypted marketplaces.
In one case, investigators traced a weapons transaction on a dark web marketplace back to an address linked to a North Korean shipping firm already under sanctions. In another, forged passports believed to be produced in Pyongyang were discovered in a European sting operation, with transactions conducted in cryptocurrency and coordinated via anonymous messaging apps.
Evolving Tactics
North Korea’s use of the dark web is constantly evolving, making enforcement difficult. The regime's cyber operatives are known to rotate identities, use virtual private networks (VPNs) based in third countries, and rely on darknet hosts that resist law enforcement takedowns.
“The combination of technical skill and financial desperation makes them one of the most persistent threats in cyberspace,” said a former U.S. intelligence official. “They adapt faster than many realize.”
Global Response and Challenges
Efforts to combat North Korea’s digital footprint face major obstacles. The decentralized nature of the dark web, combined with the legal gray zones of global cyber jurisdiction, limits the ability of law enforcement to shut down operations or track assets effectively.
The U.S., South Korea, and their allies have increased sanctions targeting crypto wallets, digital infrastructure, and shell companies suspected of aiding Pyongyang’s cyber apparatus. However, experts caution that no amount of regulation alone can fully stop a determined and state-backed cyber actor operating in the shadows of the internet.
Conclusion
North Korea’s ability to leverage the dark web is a sobering example of how authoritarian regimes can exploit modern technology to survive—and even thrive—under isolation. As long as these networks remain difficult to police, and digital tools stay readily accessible, Pyongyang’s presence in the darkest corners of the web is unlikely to disappear.