Canberra:Australia has imposed sanctions on two North Korean companies and two individuals identified as 'financial brokers' for their role in financing North Korea's unlawful weapons programs, according to an official statement released on Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the sanctions target entities and individuals facilitating North Korea's use of fraudulent IT workers who secure remote employment under false national identities. These activities allegedly fund the regime's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, violating UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit North Korea's export of labor.

The sanctioned individuals, Sim Hyon Sop and Yu Py Ung, have been identified by US authorities as key financial brokers for the North Korean regime. Despite these allegations, Pyongyang has consistently denied the existence of shadow financial networks, dismissing the claims as fabricated.

North Korea continues to be one of the most heavily sanctioned nations due to its persistent nuclear ambitions. The Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, stated that the sanctions are based on findings from the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team and are coordinated with international partners, including the European Union. Wong urged North Korea to adhere to UN Security Council resolutions and to take steps toward denuclearization.

The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, which includes members from 11 countries, reported last month that a significant number of North Korean workers remain overseas, particularly in China and Russia, despite UN sanctions mandating their repatriation. Some of these workers are allegedly involved in military drone manufacturing in Russia. Pyongyang has rejected these claims, accusing the monitoring group of misrepresenting legitimate economic activities.