South Korea, the United States and Japan have agreed to bolster joint efforts to combat North Korea's illegal cyber activities. "The three sides assessed North Korea's illegal cyber activities, which fund North Korea's weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, are becoming more sophisticated," the presidential office said in a statement, cited by Yonhap News Agency. "Global virtual currency exchanges, including those in South Korea, the US and Japan, have become their primary target," the statement added. The three sides stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships with the private sector, particularly with cryptocurrency service providers, to raise awareness of Pyongyang's cyber threats. "They agreed to collaborate with like-minded countries to trace forces behind North Korea's illegal cyber activities and take necessary measures to address the threats," it added. North Korea is estimated to have earned more than $6 billion through hacking and other illicit activities over the past seven years despite facing heavy international sanctions. Source: Qatar News Agency