North Korea continues to increase cyber attacks on U.S. government departments, critical infrastructure and private businesses, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), an assessment that one expert said reflects increasing recognition of the importance of cyberspace since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

The DPRK is behind “a range of espionage and criminal objectives in cyberspace,” a summary of the DOD’s 2023 Cyber Strategy released Tuesday states. 

The summary is based on a classified report released to Congress in May.

“[North Korea] has undertaken significant malicious cyber activity related to ransomware and the compromise of cryptocurrency