The United States is investigating Chinese banks that allegedly helped North Korea develop its nuclear weapons program.<br />Kan Hyeong-woo reports.<br />Three major Chinese banks are being probed by the U.S. for allegedly helping finance Pyeongyang's nuclear weapons program - which would be a violation of the international sanctions on North Korea.<br />According to Bloomberg,... Washington is investigating hundreds of millions of dollars in suspect financial transactions.<br />Citing an appeals court opinion,... Bloomberg reported that American prosecutors do not "currently" suspect the unnamed Chinese banks of intentionally violating sanctions.<br />But the appeals court said the U.S. government believes the banks hold records that might "clarify how North Korea finances its nuclear weapons program."<br />Washington has been trying to acquire banking records from 2012 to 2017.<br />The five-year span was the period leading up to North Korea's successful tests of nuclear arms and missile systems,... including an ICBM launch in 2017.<br />Quoting a former CIA and Treasury Department official,... Bloomberg added that, if the government finds evidence the banks knowingly aided the transactions, the U.S. could fine them billions of dollars.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a new UN report says North Korea amassed some 2 billion U.S. dollars for its WMD programs... using cyberattacks to steal money from financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges and launder the money in cyberspace.<br />According to Reuters,... the confidential report to the UN Security Council says Pyeongyang is also continuing to enhance its nuclear and missile programs, despite not testing a nuclear bomb or ICBM in many months.<br />The North Korean mission to the UN did not respond to a request for comment.<br />A U.S. State Department official was quoted as saying Washington calls upon all responsible states to take action to counter North Korea's ability to engage in malicious cyber activities.<br />Kan Hyeong-woo, Arirang News.<br />
