Australia slaps sanctions on North Korea-linked cyber criminals, Penny Wong announces

Australia has followed the US in slapping sanctions on cyber criminals propping up North Korea’s creation of weapons of mass destruction.

Financial sanctions and travel bans have been slapped on four entities and one person involved in cybercrime to support and fund North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, the Australian government announced.

A multilateral sanctions monitoring team’s second report found North Korean cyber actors stole at least $US1.19 billion ($A1.83 billion) in cryptocurrency from companies across the world in 2024.

North Korean cyber actors stole at least $US1.65 billion ($A2.54 billion) in the first nine months of 2025, with most coming from theft of $US1.4 billion ($A2.2 billion) from the cryptocurrency exchange Bybit in February.

The rogue nation uses networks of nationals abroad and foreign-based facilitators, including in China, Russia, Argentina, Cambodia, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates, to launder stolen digital assets into currency for procurement activities and funding related to the programs.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said North Korea’s involvement in malicious cyber-enabled activities, including cryptocurrency theft, fraudulent IT work and espionage, was “deeply concerning”.

“The Australia government is taking this action with the United States to apply pressure on North Korea’s illegal revenue generation networks and address its persistent challenges to security and stability,” she said in a statement.

“Australia will continue to work with international partners to respond to malicious cyber activity, promote the framework for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace and keep Australians safe.”

Earlier this week, the US State Department sanctioned two entities and eight individuals involved in supporting North Korea’s illicit schemes to launder funds.

It named the culprits as Ryujong Credit Bank, Korea Mangyongdae Computer Technology Company and its president U Yong Su, North Korean bankers Jang Kuk Chol and Ho Chong Son and five North Korean financial institution representatives.

“Today’s actions reaffirm our commitment to hold accountable those who target US citizens and benefit the DPRK’s unlawful weapons programs,” the department said.

US Congress’s think tank estimates North Korea has produced enough fissile material to build up to 90 nuclear warheads and may have already assembled about 50.

North Korea has tested a nuclear explosive device six times since 2006, with its most recent test in 2017.

US President Donald Trump has said he ordered the US military to restart the process for testing nuclear weapons, with the nation’s energy secretary saying they were likely to be system tests that don’t involve nuclear explosions.

North Korea, India and Pakistan are the only nations that possess nuclear weapons that haven’t observed the United Nations’ Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.