G7 urges tougher global action on North Korea crypto thefts
At the June 17 G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, leaders urged tougher global action to halt North Korea-linked cryptocurrency thefts, linking them to Indo-Pacific security and sanctions evasion.
G7 leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States raised the issue on June 17 at their summit in Évian-les-Bains, France. The reference appeared in the Indo-Pacific section of the summit communiqué.
The communiqué read: “We reiterate the need to jointly address North Korea’s cryptocurrency thefts and cybercrimes.” The same section expressed concern about North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirmed support for denuclearization under U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Public assessments and investigations attribute billions of dollars in stolen cryptocurrency to hacking groups with apparent links to the North Korean state. These groups have targeted centralized exchanges, decentralized finance protocols and other digital-asset platforms.
Security researchers and investigators have connected groups such as Lazarus to major heists and documented laundering techniques used to obscure proceeds, including token mixers and rapid transfers across multiple blockchains.
The G7 framed the thefts alongside sanctions evasion and weapons funding. Officials outlined responses that could include tighter oversight of centralized exchanges, increased scrutiny of decentralized finance platforms, monitoring of mixing services and cross-chain bridges, and coordinated investigations by intelligence and financial authorities.
Law enforcement agencies have previously used blockchain tracking, sanctions and asset freezes in several high-profile cases. The communiqué calls for joint approaches to disrupt the flow of stolen funds and to prevent digital assets from being used to finance programs in violation of international law.
The summit also focused on Ukraine, the Middle East and energy resilience. Leaders pledged additional air defenses for Kyiv, discussed a U.S.-backed mediation on Iran, and agreed on steps to diversify energy supply routes. The G7 welcomed continued economic cooperation through the G20 and noted China’s participation in a separate growth summit.
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