As the Trump administration returns to the White House, its approach to cybersecurity faces renewed scrutiny, particularly in the face of persistent threats from North Korea. While much of the focus has been on Trump’s shifting stance toward Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions, the cyber threat remains just as critical.

North Korea’s well-documented cyber operations, from cryptocurrency theft to ransomware attacks, have only grown more sophisticated in recent years. Yet the Trump administration’s approach to cyber deterrence — marked by a more aggressive offensive posture, institutional shake-ups and a rollback of diplomatic cyber initiatives — raises pressing