Washington and Seoul impose sanctions on North Korea for illegal cyber activities
The governments of the United States and South Korea announced Tuesday. sanctions against a number of North Korean organizations and individuals allegedly involved in illegal cyber activities that help fund the country’s illicit weapons development programs.
“Today’s action continues to highlight the extensive illicit operations of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) computer and cyber workers, which fund illegal weapons of mass destruction programs. and ballistic missile programs of the regime,” said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.
“The U.S. and our partners remain committed to combat the DPRK’s illicit revenue-generating activities. and ongoing efforts to steal money from financial institutions, virtual currency exchange houses, businesses and individuals around the world,” the undersecretary added.
U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinkenhas 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 U.S. sanctions apply to four organizations and one North Korean national, has noted that Korea “conducts malicious cyber activities and deploys overseas information technology (IT) workers who fraudulently obtain employment to generate revenue to support Kim’s regime.“.
It has also remarked that. the Biden Administration is “taking this action in coordination” with Seoul, which is “at the same time taking this action in coordination” with Seoul, which “at the same time is imposing sanctions against an entity and an individual associated with Pyongyang’s overseas IT workers”.
An individual, Kim Sang Man, and Chinyong Information Technology Cooperation, have been sanctioned. jointly by both countries. However, the South Korean Foreign Ministry has announced additional sanctions separately, which involve seven individuals and three entities.as reported by Yonhap.
