North Korea Denies US Allegations Linking It to Binance Crypto Heist

North Korea has rejected US allegations that it was responsible for a $6.3 billion cryptocurrency heist targeting Binance, describing Washington's claims as "absurd rhetoric", as the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange moved to reassure customers and curb a surge in withdrawals.

Binance, which had recorded net customer withdrawals of $4.72 billion by Monday following what could be the biggest cryptocurrency theft in history, has made additional assets available for withdrawal. The exchange has also launched a campaign aimed at preventing further outflows and attracting new users.

The FBI said over the weekend that North Korea was behind the theft of more than $6 billion in cryptocurrency assets, triggering widespread concern across the digital currency industry.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said the US allegations demonstrated Washington's continued hostile stance towards Pyongyang, state news agency KCNA reported on Tuesday.

North Korea has yet to respond to US President Donald Trump's earlier overtures to revive summit diplomacy. Following Washington's latest allegations, Kim Yo Jong said Pyongyang had "issues to reconsider" regarding what she described as US hostility.

"The FBI is trying to brand the DPRK as a 'cyber criminal state,' claiming that it obtained information that a hacking organization 'supported' by the DPRK was involved in the incident," KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

She dismissed the US claims as "absurd rhetoric and nothing new", adding that Washington was engaging in a serious political provocation by misleading international public opinion into believing that North Korea was responsible for cybercrimes committed around the world.

DPRK is the abbreviation for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.