Why Trump’s new counter-cybercrime model curiously leaves out North Korea
The memo targets transnational criminal groups, while the DPRK’s state-directed operations occupy a murkier space
The new U.S. counter-cybercrime memorandum and North Korean soldiers using computers | Images: The White House (Aug. 12, 2026) and KCTV (Sept. 8, 2024), edited by NK Pro
U.S. President Donald Trump recently unveiled an ambitious initiative to harness the power of the private sector to take the attack to foreign cybercriminals. However, one of the world’s most notorious cyber actors is notably missing from the target list: North Korea.
The White House’s effort to combat “transnational cyber-enabled crime,” outlined in a memo issued Aug. 12, authorizes the use of vetted private firms to combat transnational cybercrime posing a growing threat to American citizens, businesses and national security.
The move represents a significant step for Washington’s cyber strategy, by leveraging
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