G7 urges crackdown on North Korea crypto theft

Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations have formally called for a coordinated international crackdown on North Korea's cryptocurrency theft operations, labeling them a top-tier security threat that funds the regime's weapons programs. The joint statement was issued following a meeting in Évian-les-Bains, France, on June 17, 2026.

The statement places North Korea's cybercrimes alongside other major geopolitical concerns, such as nuclear proliferation and the war in Ukraine. It marks a significant escalation in how world leaders view the nexus of digital finance and national security, with the G7 explicitly linking billions in stolen crypto assets to Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions. The leaders reiterated their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and pledged closer cooperation to counter the abuse of digital financial networks.

This call to action follows a series of major crypto heists in 2026 attributed to North Korean-linked actors. Security firms have tied the regime to the theft of over $250 million from the Solana-based Drift Protocol in April and a separate breach of the Humanity Protocol for more than $35 million just weeks...