Australia Imposes Sanctions on North Korean Hackers Following $1.9B Crypto Heist
Australia has formally sanctioned North Korean hacking groups, including the notorious Lazarus Group, in response to escalating cyberattacks targeting cryptocurrency exchanges and firms. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the measures, linking the hackers' activities to funding Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction programs.
UN investigators report North Korean hackers stole a record $1.9 billion in cryptocurrency assets during 2024, doubling the previous year's haul. The Lazarus Group, already sanctioned by the US and South Korea, remains a primary threat actor in these large-scale exchange breaches.
Canberra pledged coordinated action with allies to disrupt financial flows to the North Korean regime. The sanctions reflect growing international concern over state-sponsored crypto theft becoming a critical funding mechanism for prohibited weapons programs.
