The US and South Korean governments announced this Tuesday sanctions against several organizations and North Korean individuals who are allegedly involved in illegal cyber activities that help finance the country’s illicit weapons development programs.
Today’s action continues to highlight the extensive illicit operations of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) computer and cyber workers, who finance the regime’s illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs,” said Under Secretary of Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson.
The United States and our partners remain committed to combating the DPRK’s illicit revenue-generating activities and ongoing efforts to steal money from financial institutions, virtual currency exchanges, businesses, and individuals around the world,” added Undersecretary .
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has explained that “the extensive illicit operations of DPRK computer and cyber workers threaten international security by financing the DPRK regime and its dangerous activities.”
Blinken, who has indicated that the US sanctions apply to four organizations and a North Korean national, has pointed out that Korea “carries out malicious cyber activities and deploys information technology (IT) workers abroad who fraudulently obtain employment to generate revenue to support the Kim regime.”
He has also stressed that the Biden Administration is “taking this measure in coordination” with Seoul, which “at the same time is imposing sanctions against an entity and a person associated with information technology workers” from Pyongyang abroad.
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An individual, Kim Sang Man, and the Chinyong Information Technology Cooperation company, have been jointly sanctioned by both countries. However, the South Korean Foreign Ministry has announced additional sanctions separately, involving seven individuals and three entities, Yonhap has reported.
With information from EuropaPress
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