Now, when you think about cyber warfare, you probably imagine some Hollywood-esque scenario—hackers in hoodies furiously typing away, firewalls crumbling like soggy biscuits, and some bloke in a control room shouting, “We’ve been breached!” But let’s talk about North Korea, a country that, quite frankly, is playing a completely different game.
Because here’s the thing—you can’t hack what isn’t online.
The Country That Unplugged Itself
Most modern nations are hyper-connected—our power grids, hospitals, transport systems, even our kettles are all linked to the internet. And that makes us vulnerable. One dodgy email attachment and suddenly the whole system’s on fire.
But North Korea? They’re still basically running a 1970s office setup. Their power grids aren’t controlled by some sleek, cloud-based AI. Their trains probably still operate on handwritten schedules. If you launch a sophisticated cyberattack at them, it’s like trying to phish your grandmother who still writes letters. Good luck with that.
And the best part? If they sense trouble, they can just unplug the whole thing. Literally pull the plug. Try doing that in London or New York. Someone hacks the transport network there and suddenly every commuter is sobbing into their oat-milk lattes.
Cyber Security? No Need, Mate.
Most countries pour billions into cyber defense—firewalls, encryption, emergency response teams in darkened rooms with too many monitors. But North Korea? Their strategy is simpler: just don’t use the internet.
Their entire cybersecurity plan is like the granddad who won’t get a smartphone because “they can track you on those things.” And you know what? In this case, he’s absolutely right.
The Ultimate Cyber Irony
Now, here’s where it gets properly ridiculous. While North Korea is about as hackable as a brick wall, they’re also one of the biggest cyber threats out there. Their state-sponsored hacking groups—like Lazarus Group—have pulled off some world-class heists, hacking banks, stealing cryptocurrency, and even taking down Sony Pictures because they didn’t like a Seth Rogen film. Imagine that. A whole government saying, “This comedy offends us, let’s destroy a multinational corporation.”
The Takeaway: North Korea Wins by Default
So what’s the lesson here? In cyber warfare, it’s not just about having the best attack or defense—it’s about not needing one at all.
North Korea has somehow made itself immune to cyber war not by being strong, but by being so utterly disconnected that no one can touch them. They’re not playing 4D chess; they’re just refusing to sit at the table. And in a world where everyone’s vulnerable because they’re too online, that’s almost genius.
