North Korean and Russian cyber actors may be teaming up. So must allies.



Opinion North Korean and Russian cyber actors may be teaming up. So must allies. South Korea and the UK need to increase joint efforts to counter illicit activity by shared adversaries in cyberspace Joseph Jarnecki \| Pia Hüsch March 6, 2026 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Image: KCTV, edited by NK News *Editor’s note:* The following article is an opinion piece by Pia Hüsch and Joseph Jarnecki of the Royal United Services Institute, based on their research paper entitled “Strengthening UK–South Korea Cyber Security Cooperation.” Views expressed in opinion articles are exclusively the author’s own and do not represent those of NK News. Emerging evidence of cooperation between North Korean and Russian cyber actors has raised the specter of increasing adversary convergence in cyberspace, expanding their ties beyond the battlefield of the Ukraine war. Public disclosures by cyber security companies claim state-linked actors from the two countries have shared infrastructure and partnered © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

Opinion

North Korean and Russian cyber actors may be teaming up. So must allies.

South Korea and the UK need to increase joint efforts to counter illicit activity by shared adversaries in cyberspace

Joseph Jarnecki | Pia Hüsch March 6, 2026

North Korean and Russian cyber actors may be teaming up. So must allies.

Image: KCTV, edited by NK News

Editor’s note: The following article is an opinion piece by Pia Hüsch and Joseph Jarnecki of the Royal United Services Institute, based on their research paper entitled “Strengthening UK–South Korea Cyber Security Cooperation.” Views expressed in opinion articles are exclusively the author’s own and do not represent those of NK News.

Emerging evidence of cooperation between North Korean and Russian cyber actors has raised the specter of increasing adversary convergence in cyberspace, expanding their ties beyond the battlefield of the Ukraine war.

Public disclosures by cyber security companies claim state-linked actors from the two countries have shared infrastructure and partnered

About the Authors

Joseph Jarnecki

Joseph Jarnecki is a Research Fellow in RUSI's Cyber and Tech Research group. His research focuses on cyber security policy issues, emerging technology and international tech diplomacy. He leads projects on cloud sovereignty, competition and cyber security legislation reform and China's cyber security policy. Joseph has recently published papers on the U.K. National Cyber Action Plan, European Cloud Adoption for Defense and national security and mobile cybercrime.

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Pia Hüsch

Pia Hüsch is a Research Fellow in RUSI’s Cyber and Tech research group. She leads RUSI’s research on disruptive technologies, including on how national security and geopolitical considerations shape countries’ science, tech and innovation policy.

View more articles by Pia Hüsch Got a news tip?Let us know!