The United States has blacklisted a network accused of aiding financial payments between Russia and North Korea, two isolated countries that have grown financially and militarily closer amid the Kremlin's war in Ukraine.

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on a network of five groups and one person for enabling payments between Russia and North Korea to support Moscow's war in Ukraine and Pyongyang's weapons programs,

"The U.S. remains strongly committed to leveraging all our available tools to disrupt this and other schemes intended to support Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and enable (North Korea's) illicit access to the international financial system,

The U.S. has placed sanctions on a network of five groups and one individual in Russia and South Ossetia for facilitating illicit payments between Russia and North Korea. This move aims to curtail North Korea's WMD programs and Russia's unlawful activities in Ukraine.

US action follows Kim Jong Un's meeting with top Russian security official to deepen ties between the two countries

On September 19, the US Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions against one individual and 5 companies involved in illegal financial transactions between Russia and North Korea.

In March, Russia used its veto power on the U.N. Security Council to end monitoring of North Korea’s efforts to evade sanctions on its nuclear program. The termination of monitors, Mr. Spleeters said, was a major reason the country has been able to continue building and transferring ordnance to Russia.

North Korean Foreign Minister met with the Russian Foreign Minister to explore avenues for strengthening cooperation between their countries.

The United States on Thursday announced sanctions against five entities and one individual -- based in Russia and a Russian-occupied Georgian region -- for their alleged involvement in illicit financial schemes between Pyongyang and Moscow.