A senior South Korean official says North Korea allegedly hacked an online game and stole 620 million dollars' worth of cryptocurrency in March.

South Korea's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs, Kim Gunn, made the remark in a symposium cohosted by the US State Department and South Korea's foreign ministry in Seoul on Thursday.

Government officials from 16 countries and cybersecurity experts took part in discussions on how to counter cyberattacks by North Korea.

Pyongyang is widely suspected of funding its nuclear and missile development programs by stealing cryptocurrency from companies through cyberattacks.

Kim noted the cryptocurrency that the North allegedly stole in March could have financed the costs of the country's firing of 31 ballistic missiles in the first half of this year.

He called for a united front of the international community to cut off the funding sources that the North needs for its nuclear and missile development.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary Jung Pak said that by strengthening measures against the North's cyberattacks, countries can not only protect themselves, but also deny Pyongyang illicit funds it uses to advance its weapons programs.