Australia Imposes New Sanctions on North Korea’s Cybercrime Networks

Australia has imposed a new round of sanctions targeting North Korean cybercriminals accused of financing Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The move includes punitive measures against the notorious Lazarus Group — a state-backed hacking collective widely linked to global cyberattacks and cryptocurrency theft.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the sanctions and travel bans on Thursday, targeting four entities and one individual associated with North Korea’s illicit cyber network. “The scale of North Korea’s involvement in malicious cyber-enabled activities, including cryptocurrency theft, fraudulent IT work, and espionage, is deeply concerning,” Senator Wong said.
Citing a recent United Nations report, Wong revealed that North Korean hackers stole at least $1.9 billion in cryptocurrency from companies worldwide in 2024, using an intricate web of nationals and foreign facilitators to launder stolen assets. The same report noted that Pyongyang used cryptocurrencies to facilitate the sale and transfer of military equipment and raw materials such as copper.
“The Australian Government is taking this action with the United States to apply pressure on North Korea’s illegal revenue generation networks and address its persistent threats to security and stability,” Wong said. She reaffirmed Canberra’s commitment to working with allies to counter malicious cyber activity and uphold responsible state conduct in cyberspace.
Wong urged North Korea to “abandon its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner,” in compliance with UN Security Council resolutions.