The U.S. Department of the Treasury<\/strong> announced new sanctions against a group of North Korean bankers and financial entities<\/strong> accused of laundering stolen cryptocurrency<\/strong> to support Kim Jong-un\u2019s nuclear and missile programs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The measure affects eight individuals and two companies<\/strong>, including Jang Kuk Chol<\/strong> and Ho Jong Son<\/strong>, both identified as financial operatives linked to First Credit Bank<\/strong>, an institution already under previous U.S. sanctions. Investigators say the bankers managed over $5 million in crypto assets<\/strong> tied to illicit transactions across Asia and Eastern Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Treasury findings, North Korean state-backed hackers<\/strong> stole more than $3 billion in digital assets<\/strong> over the last three years through sophisticated cyberattacks. The stolen funds were funneled through a complex international network of front companies and shell institutions<\/strong> in China, Russia, and North Korea<\/strong>, enabling Pyongyang to disguise the origin of the assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since 2022, the Treasury has repeatedly warned about North Korean tech specialists<\/strong> using false identities<\/strong> to secure remote work in global technology firms, infiltrating corporate networks and redirecting earnings toward regime-controlled accounts. Officials say these operations have become a key financial pillar<\/strong> for North Korea\u2019s weapons development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deputy Treasury Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley<\/strong> stated that the United States remains committed to \u201cdisrupting the DPRK\u2019s ability to generate and move illicit revenue<\/strong> that fuels its unlawful nuclear ambitions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Washington also plans to propose additional UN sanctions<\/strong> against seven ships accused of violating international trade embargoes through illegal coal and iron ore exports to China. The new measures aim to cut off North Korea\u2019s revenue streams<\/strong> and restrict its access to global financial systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Treasury Department targets eight individuals and two entities accused of moving millions in stolen crypto to fund Kim Jong-un\u2019s nuclear weapons program. The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced new sanctions against a group of North Korean bankers and financial entities accused of laundering stolen cryptocurrency to support Kim Jong-un\u2019s nuclear and missile programs. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2386,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,22],"tags":[244,243,63],"class_list":["post-2385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s","category-world","tag-bankers","tag-north-korean","tag-u-s"],"yoast_head":"\n