The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on Tuesday that it has imposed sanctions on several North Korean individuals and entities accused of involvement in money laundering and cybercrimes used to fund the country’s weapons programs.

In an official statement published on its website, the department said:

“State-sponsored hackers in North Korea steal and launder funds to finance the regime’s nuclear weapons program.”

The statement added that “these actors pose a direct threat to U.S. and international security” and affirmed the Treasury’s continued efforts to pursue all contributors and facilitators of these activities in order to cut off North Korea’s illicit revenue streams.

The department noted that North Korea relies heavily on large-scale illegal activities, including cybercrime, to generate income for its missile and nuclear programs. North Korean hackers are tasked with raising funds through illicit means.

According to the statement, North Korean cyber operations have resulted in the theft of over $3 billion in the past three years—mostly in digital currencies—using advanced techniques such as malware and social engineering.

The Treasury also revealed that some North Korean IT workers operate globally under fake or stolen identities, earning hundreds of millions of dollars annually through international contracts. In some cases, they collaborate with foreign developers to facilitate operations and share profits.

Two North Korean bankers, Jang Kuk Chol and Ho Jong Son, were named for managing funds—including $5.3 million in digital assets—on behalf of First Credit Bank, which is already under sanctions. Both individuals and the bank have now been added to the U.S. sanctions list under executive orders.

Additionally, Korea Mangyongdae Information Technology Corporation and its current head, Yu Yong Su, were sanctioned for their involvement in the activities of North Korean IT workers and for concealing the sources of illicit revenue.

The statement emphasized that international networks linked to North Korean financial institutions are used to facilitate money laundering, evade sanctions, and support weapons programs.

The Treasury concluded by stating that all property and assets of the sanctioned individuals and entities within the United States or under the control of U.S. persons are now blocked, and any financial dealings with them without authorization may result in penalties.