Cryptocurrency funds stolen by North Korean hackers have been a key source for financing the sanctions-stricken country’s weapons programmes, officials and experts in the US and its allies say.

“We reiterate with concern that overseas DPRK IT workers continue using forged identities and nationalities” to evade U.N. sanctions and raise funds for missile programmes, according to the statement, using the acronym for North Korea’s official name.

“We are also deeply concerned about how the DPRK supports these programmes by stealing and laundering funds as well as gathering information through malicious cyber activities,” the statement said.

South Korea’s nuclear envoy held talks with his US and Japanese counterparts in Seoul this week and condemned North Korea’s weapons tests.