North Korea has said it sees little reason to pursue talks with the United States under current conditions, with senior official Kim Yo Jong describing the FBI’s accusation over a multibillion-dollar Binance cryptocurrency theft as evidence of Washington’s “hostile policy” toward Pyongyang.
In a statement carried by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on November 4, Kim said dialogue remained one possible route to peace but was not necessarily in North Korea’s national interest. She argued that Washington must first abandon what Pyongyang describes as its hostile approach before meaningful discussions can take place.
Her comments followed the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) October 31 announcement that North Korea was responsible for stealing more than $6 billion in virtual assets from Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges.
The dispute adds another complication to the possibility of renewed diplomatic engagement between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Kim Yo Jong Says FBI Binance Hack Accusation Shows US Hostility
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a senior Workers’ Party official, criticised Washington for publicly attributing the Binance theft to North Korean hackers.
She described the alleged cryptocurrency hacking case as evidence of what she called the underlying nature of US policy toward North Korea. Kim also rejected the FBI’s findings, portraying the accusation as a political provocation intended to damage the country’s international image.
In her November 4 statement, Kim said North Korea had no reason to meet with US officials whom it considers hostile and unreliable.
She also emphasised that dialogue should not automatically be treated as being in North Korea’s national interest. Her remarks suggest that Pyongyang is not ruling out diplomacy entirely but is unwilling to prioritise negotiations without changes in Washington’s approach.
Kim further warned that North Korea could respond to what it views as continued US pressure, although she did not specify what measures the country might take.
FBI Attributes More Than $6 Billion Binance Theft to North Korea
The diplomatic dispute follows an FBI announcement on October 31, 2026, attributing the theft of more than $6 billion in virtual assets from Binance to North Korea.
The agency identified the activity as part of a North Korean cyber operation known as TraderTraitor. According to the FBI, the attackers stole the assets on or around October 29 and subsequently began converting them, primarily into Ether (ETH).
The FBI said it was working with the US Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation division to track the stolen funds. It also urged cryptocurrency businesses, blockchain infrastructure providers, decentralised finance platforms and other virtual asset service providers to block transactions connected to the identified addresses.
The attribution is part of Washington’s wider effort to disrupt cyber operations that US authorities say generate revenue for North Korea.
North Korea has denied involvement in the incident.
Binance Hack Could Become One of the Largest Crypto Thefts
The Binance incident has drawn attention because of its reported scale and the potential implications for cryptocurrency exchange security.
According to the Associated Press, Binance reported that approximately $6.36 billion was stolen from its wallets across 10 blockchain networks. The exchange said it had set aside more than $6.34 billion to cover losses and was working with partners to recover the stolen assets.
The company and blockchain security partners have also reportedly frozen approximately $3 billion connected to the incident.
The FBI’s attribution to TraderTraitor adds to concerns about the growing sophistication of cyberattacks targeting major cryptocurrency platforms. Blockchain intelligence firms have also linked the group to previous high-value crypto thefts, including the 2025 attack on Bybit, in which approximately $1.5 billion was stolen.
However, the North Korean government has rejected the latest US allegation, and its public response has turned the incident into another point of friction between the two countries.
North Korea Links US Military Activities to Its Refusal to Engage
Kim’s criticism extended beyond the FBI’s cryptocurrency theft announcement.
She also pointed to military exercises involving the United States and South Korea, as well as a recent trilateral meeting involving the foreign ministers of the United States, South Korea and Japan.
During that meeting, the three countries reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea. Pyongyang has consistently opposed international pressure over its nuclear weapons programme, describing such measures and joint military exercises as threats to its security.
Kim presented these developments as further evidence that Washington had not changed its approach toward North Korea.
Her statement indicates that the Binance accusation is being used as part of a broader diplomatic argument rather than treated as an isolated cybersecurity dispute.
Trump-Kim Summit Prospects Remain Uncertain
The latest exchange comes amid speculation about a possible resumption of high-level diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang.
US President Donald Trump has expressed interest in meeting Kim Jong Un again. However, North Korea has not publicly committed to a new summit.
The two leaders last met face to face in June 2019 at Panmunjom, on the inter-Korean border. Their earlier diplomatic engagement failed to produce a lasting agreement on North Korea’s nuclear programme or the removal of international sanctions.
Kim Yo Jong’s latest remarks suggest that Pyongyang wants Washington to change its policy before negotiations can move forward. Although she acknowledged that dialogue can be an option for peace, she made clear that North Korea does not consider talks essential under the current circumstances.
This leaves the possibility of renewed US-North Korea negotiations uncertain, particularly as the two sides continue to disagree over sanctions, military activities, denuclearisation and alleged cyber operations.
Why the Binance Allegation Matters Beyond Crypto
The dispute highlights how cryptocurrency theft allegations can become part of broader geopolitical tensions.
US authorities have repeatedly accused North Korean-linked hacking groups of targeting cryptocurrency exchanges, financial institutions and blockchain projects. They say stolen digital assets can provide revenue outside conventional financial channels and help fund activities prohibited under international sanctions.
For the cryptocurrency industry, the Binance incident also highlights the importance of transaction monitoring, wallet security, international cooperation and rapid coordination with law enforcement.
If the stolen assets move through decentralised finance protocols, instant swap services and other blockchain networks, tracking and freezing funds can become increasingly difficult.
The FBI’s public identification of wallet addresses is intended to help industry participants identify and disrupt transactions connected to the alleged operation.
Bottom Line
North Korea has criticised the FBI’s accusation that it was responsible for stealing more than $6 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance, with Kim Yo Jong describing the allegation as evidence of Washington’s hostile policy.
Her latest statement does not completely close the door to diplomacy, but it indicates that Pyongyang does not consider talks with the United States a priority unless Washington changes its approach.
The incident has therefore developed into both a major cryptocurrency security case and another source of tension in US-North Korea relations.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. The FBI’s attribution of the Binance theft to North Korea is a US government finding, which Pyongyang denies. Allegations of state involvement should be distinguished from independently established legal findings.
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