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The US Government has warned its citizens to be aware of cybersecurity risks during the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.

The warning comes as researchers and experts identify North Korea as an increasingly aggressive threat in cyberspace.

Hackers in Pyongyang are believed to be behind a series of sophisticated cyber heists targeting the SWIFT global financial messaging service between 2015 and 2016, and the WannaCry ransomware which hit the NHS last year.

A message issued by the the Department for Homeland Security and the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) warned that "at high-profile events, cyber activists may take advantage of the large audience to spread their message".

:: North Korean athletes arrive for Winter Olympics

South Korea is one of the most digitally connected nations in the world, partly because of the density of its urban centres and the high internet speeds available to them.

It is often considered to have the 11th highest GDP of all the world's nations, driven in a large part by its technology industry and exports.

Cybercrime in the country is often alleged to be orchestrated by the North Korean regime, although Pyongyang has called for "unification" during the Winter Olympics, and more permanently afterwards.

The US-CERT message warned however that cybercriminals were likely to be active during the games, stating: "Cybercriminals may attempt to steal personally identifiable information or harvest users' credentials for financial gain."

It also warned of the "possibility that mobile or other communications will be monitored".

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US-CERT encouraged visitors to protect themselves against the risks associated with portable devices such as smartphones and tablets, by:

:: Switching off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections when not in use.
:: Using a credit card to pay for online goods and services.
:: When using a public or unsecured wireless connection, avoid using sites and applications that require personal information like log-ins.
:: Update mobile software.
:: Use strong PINs and passwords.

Research by cybersecurity firm FireEye's Luke McNamara described North Korea's increasing interest in cryptocurrencies as an asset class, with the value of Bitcoin rocketing over the course of last year.

Mr McNamara notes how the secretive North Korean agency known informally as Office 39 had been a critical asset of the state by generating black market revenues since at least the 1970s.

It is estimated to bring $1bn a year through illicit activities, including counterfeiting US dollar currency, producing narcotics, and even smuggling gold.

FireEye's research noted how escalating economic sanctions against North Korea were accompanied by a surge in hacking campaigns targeting South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges.