U.S. Sanctions North Korean Hackers Laundering Crypto for Nuclear Weapons
The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on North Korean-linked entities accused of laundering cryptocurrency to finance the regime's weapons programs. The action targets cybercrime networks and IT worker fraud schemes that have funneled stolen digital assets into ballistic missile and nuclear weapons development.
Sanctioned parties include banks and tech firms allegedly used to conceal crypto flows. Blockchain forensics indicate these networks laundered significant sums, though just a fraction of Pyongyang's total stolen crypto holdings. North Korean hacking groups continue deploying advanced cyber tactics against global exchanges and blockchain companies.
The Treasury warns these operations pose a serious threat by generating revenue through decentralized financial channels, bypassing traditional banking restrictions. This marks the latest effort to disrupt Pyongyang's crypto-based sanctions evasion.
