North Korea Slams Latest US Sanctions as ‘Hostile Act’

North Korea on Thursday blasted the latest round of US sanctions targeting individuals and entities linked to Pyongyang’s cyber operations, accusing Washington of exposing its “wicked hostility” toward the country.

The reaction followed the US Treasury’s decision earlier this week to blacklist eight people and two organizations allegedly involved in laundering funds from “a variety of illicit DPRK schemes.” US officials said the group consisted of state-backed hackers whose cybercrimes were used to bankroll North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.

According to the Treasury, Pyongyang-linked cyber operatives have stolen more than $3 billion in the past three years, much of it in cryptocurrency, using “advanced malware and social engineering tactics.”

In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim Un Chol, vice-minister for US affairs, denounced the move as the fifth sanctions package imposed under the current US administration.

“With these sanctions, the US has made clear its intent to remain hostile toward the DPRK until the end,” Kim said, adding that the measures would not alter North Korea’s strategic course. Instead, he said, they would “stand as proof of the failure of America’s incurable policy” toward the country.

The move comes despite recent signals from US President Donald Trump, who last week reiterated his readiness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his Asia trip. Pyongyang has not responded.

Trump and Kim previously held three high-profile summits during Trump’s first term, but diplomacy collapsed over disagreements on the scale of nuclear concessions and sanctions relief.