A First Time for Everything: N Korea Experiences First-Ever Bank Robbery

The bank, located in North Hamgyong Province, is currently out of service, with local police suggesting that there was an accomplice inside the bank on that day.

"The robbery wouldn't have been possible without an insider's help," a police spokesperson was quoted by the Korea Times as saying.

The April 4 robbery prompted other branches of the country's Central Bank to beef up security by bringing in more personnel, according to the newspaper.

It also drew attention to the fact that banks across North Korea stocked more cash than usual in the run-up to the country's rare congress of the ruling Worker's Party of Korea due to begin on May 6.