U.S. and allies target North Korean arms procurement, crypto theft

TOKYO -- The U.S. will work with Asian allies to further squeeze North Korea's procurement networks for its weapons programs, including access to cryptocurrencies, amid talk that the reclusive communist regime is preparing for another nuclear test, a senior U.S. Treasury official said on Friday.

"One of the reasons I am here is to talk about how we can partner more effectively with Japan in responding to the DPRK's ongoing provocations," Brian Nelson, the Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in an interview in Tokyo, using North Korea's official acronym.