The United States just took a major step to stop North Korea from using cybercrime to fund its nuclear weapons program. The Treasury Department has placed sanctions on eight people and two companies from North Korea. These sanctions are meant to block them from using the international banking system and cut off their money supply. As a veteran who’s seen firsthand what hostile nations can do when left unchecked, I can tell you—this move is long overdue.
North Korea has been playing dirty for years. They don’t just rely on smuggling or shady backroom deals. They’ve turned to cybercrime—stealing billions of dollars through hacking, cryptocurrency theft, ransomware, and fake IT companies. That money pours straight into building missiles and nuclear bombs. And make no mistake, those weapons aren’t for show. Kim Jong Un is preparing for war, not peace.
According to the Treasury Department, North Korean hackers have stolen over $3 billion in just the last three years. That’s not small-time crime. That’s warfare in the digital age. These aren’t just teenagers in a basement. These are state-sponsored hackers, trained and backed by the regime. They use advanced malware and social engineering to break into financial systems and steal from people around the world—including Americans.
The two North Korean bankers named in the new sanctions, Jang Kuk-chol and Ho Jong-son, helped manage stolen funds. One example? They handled over $5 million in cryptocurrency, some of it tied to ransomware attacks that hit U.S. citizens. That money didn’t go into food or medicine for the North Korean people. It went straight into building weapons that could one day threaten our troops and our allies in the Pacific.
Let’s be clear. North Korea isn’t doing this because they’re scared. They’re doing it because they believe they can get away with it. For years, the international community talked tough but did little. That changed when President Trump stepped up pressure and made it clear that the United States would no longer tolerate this kind of behavior.
Now, with these new sanctions, the message is clear: If you help North Korea fund its weapons program—whether you’re a banker, a hacker, or a fake IT worker—we’re coming for you. These sanctions freeze any assets these individuals or companies have in the United States and cut them off from our financial system. More importantly, they serve as a warning to others who might be tempted to do business with this rogue regime.
North Korea claims it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against the U.S. and our allies. That’s nonsense. The only reason Kim wants nukes is to hold the world hostage and tighten his grip on power. He doesn’t care about his people. He cares about staying in control. And he’s willing to use whatever tools he can—cybercrime, fraud, and theft—to make that happen.
As a veteran, I know what happens when tyrants are allowed to grow their power unchecked. We’ve seen it before. We can’t let it happen again. Cyber warfare is just as dangerous as bombs and bullets. When a hostile nation steals billions using a keyboard, that’s an act of aggression. And it needs to be met with strength.
This is about more than just sanctions. It’s about protecting our national security. It’s about stopping the flow of illegal money that fuels weapons aimed at our friends and our troops abroad. And it’s about sending a message to every hacker, banker, and enabler in North Korea: America is watching, and we will act.
This fight isn’t over, but at least now we’re fighting back.
