Three North Koreans have been indicted in the United States for stealing and extorting more than US $ 1.3 billion from banks and firms around the world.
The three, who have not yet been arrested, are also charged with using illegal cryptocurrency programs.
According to the Assistant Attorney General for US National Security, John Demers, North Korea has become a criminal syndicate.
One of the accused, Park Jin-hyok was previously charged two years ago for being involved in the hacking crime of Sony Entertainment Pictures in 2014.
In addition to Jin-hyok, Jon Chang-hyok and Kim Il were charged with criminal conspiracy offenses, conspiracy to commit money transfer fraud and bank fraud.
According to the Justice Department, the three accused worked with the North Korean military intelligence agency.
"North Korea's operations, using keyboards instead of firearms, stealing cryptocurrencies instead of cash, are the world's leading bank robbers," Demers said.
All of them are believed to be in North Korea and could be difficult to punish as Pyongyang will not extradite its people to the US due to hostilities between the two countries.
In addition, a Canadian-American citizen was also charged with money laundering.
The accused, Ghaleb Alaumary, originally from Mississauga, Ontario, was charged with money laundering for a North Korean hacking group.
According to local authorities, Alaumary agreed to plead guilty to the charges.
