These criticisms came after the US Treasury Department announced this week the imposition of sanctions on eight individuals and entities «for their role in laundering money derived from a series of illegal schemes by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea». The ministry explained that these individuals are «state-sponsored hackers» who carried out illicit operations «to fund the nuclear program of the Pyongyang regime» through theft and money laundering. North Korea condemned on Thursday the recent sanctions imposed by Washington on individuals and organizations accused of cybercrimes, saying they showed the «evil and hostile nature» of the United States against the Pyongyang regime. US officials said that «criminals»
