[U.S. Sanctions North Korean Bankers, Accusing Them of Laundering Stolen Crypto Assets] The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against multiple bankers and related entities, accusing them of participating in laundering money for North Korea and transferring crypto assets obtained through cybercrime to fund its nuclear weapons program. The Treasury stated that North Korea has stolen over $3 billion in digital assets over the past three years, ranking first globally in scale. Those sanctioned include North Korean bankers Jang Kuk Chol and Ho Jong Son, who manage approximately $5.3 million in cryptocurrency funds. North Korea relies on bank representatives, shell companies, and networks of financial institutions in its own country and places like Russia to launder money and evade sanctions.