North Korean computer science students swept the top spots in a recent hacking competition hosted by a U.S.-based company, state media revealed last week, renewing concerns that the regime may use programming capabilities honed through such events to support its illicit cyber activities.

In a special program on Pyongyang’s Kim Chaek University of Technology, state-run broadcaster Korean Central Television (KCTV) on Thursday highlighted the stellar performance of the institute’s students in a contest organized by HackerEarth, an Indian-owned company based in San Francisco.