U.S. seizes $1.2 billion stolen by North Korea.
Today's events
North Korea crypto.
The Justice Department seized and froze more than $1.2 billion in cryptocurrency stolen from the exchange Binance, plus the infrastructure behind a deepfake scheme that has taken $400 million.1Nov 12 · DOJU.S.–Japan seabed pact.
Washington and Tokyo issued a joint statement on deep-sea mining, pledging to secure mineral processing capacity among trusted partners, after a working group met in Toyama on November 11 and 12.2Nov 12 · StateDark-web drug sweep.
Operation TorNado, run with Europol across the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, produced 354 arrests, $234 million in seizures and 5.7 metric tons of drugs.3Nov 12 · DOJGrid software flaws.
Cyber officials published five Siemens advisories covering two critical remote-code bugs — one in the Node.js Brotli decoder, one in the PHP runtime — in grid-control and building-automation products deployed worldwide.4Nov 12 · CISAMinerals forecast.
The Geological Survey projected world capacity to 2030 for eight minerals the U.S. mostly imports: graphite capacity grows 20%, while China still holds over 70% of graphite, silicon and tungsten supply.5Nov 12 · USGSMexico tariff threat.
Trump said tariffs on Mexico will be “IMMEDIATELY DOUBLED” if it does not stop the migrant caravans forming days after the midterm elections.6Nov 12 · WHPeru nuclear pact.
State signed a civil nuclear cooperation memorandum with Peru and gave $1 million for small-reactor training, alongside $20 million to build Peru's F-16 aerial refueling capability.7Nov 12 · StateAlaska crude.
Federal forecasters put Alaskan output up 13% in 2027, at 505,000 barrels a day — the most since 2014, and the largest annual gains since the 1980s.8Nov 12 · EIABank capital gap.
New York Fed researchers put the capital shortfall under a repeat of the 2008 crisis at $16.9 billion, up from $1.9 billion a year earlier, as capital ratios slipped.9Nov 12 · NY Fed
This week
Blockade reaches land.
Central Command stood up Task Force Iron Gate on November 7, about 20 staff in Tampa working across agencies against weapons, dual-use technology and sanctioned cargo crossing Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea.1 The sea blockade has redirected 147 merchant vessels, disabled five and destroyed ten Iranian tankers since July, and the new task force turns the same effort toward the land corridors that remain open.2Nov 7 · CENTCOMNo major strikes needed.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Group of Seven counterparts in Paris on November 10 that the blockade and sanctions had made major combat operations against Iran unnecessary, while warning the military stands ready if Tehran crosses red lines.3 Prosecutors the same day unsealed an eight-count indictment of three Iranian-backed operatives tied to nearly 20 attacks in Europe and the United States, including a September plot against a British air base housing American forces.4Nov 10 · StateManganese mine cleared.
A federal court in Arizona refused on November 10 to halt the Hermosa project, the only domestic source positioned to produce battery-grade manganese, citing substantial national-security interest; China holds about 95 percent of global refining capacity.10 On November 6 the Defense Logistics Agency committed $2 billion in fiscal 2026 to strategic and critical materials, from high-purity aluminum to vanadium pentoxide, sourced mostly from domestic suppliers.11Nov 10 · DOJDebt at $40.2 trillion.
The Government Accountability Office's audit, released November 9, put federal debt at $40.2 trillion for the year ended September 30, with interest costs of $1.4 trillion; borrowing against the $41.1 trillion statutory limit has passed $40 trillion.12 New York Fed researchers separately put the banking system's capital shortfall under a repeat of the 2008 crisis at $16.9 billion, up from $1.9 billion a year earlier.13Nov 9 · GAOSummit calendar.
At Beijing's request, Rubio and Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed on November 11 Trump's coming travel to the Asia-Pacific summit in China, Xi's visit to Florida for the Group of 20, and a possible leaders' meeting with Russia.14 On November 6 the U.S. trade representative and Treasury secretary pressed Vice Premier He Lifeng by video to deliver on commitments covering agricultural purchases, rare earths and other critical minerals.15Nov 11 · State
Allied Governments
Russian oil blacklist.
The UK sanctioned Slavneft, becoming the first country to hit all ten of Russia's major oil producers, along with shadow-fleet vessels, coal companies and Rosneft's Arctic Vostok Oil project.aNov 12 · UK No.10Houthi arms embargo.
The UN Security Council adopted by consensus a resolution tightening Yemen's arms embargo; a list of dual-use items feeding Houthi weapons manufacturing is still to be agreed.bNov 12 · UK FCDOMine-hunting ships.
The Royal Navy will buy three motherships for uncrewed mine-hunters under Norway's vessel programme, a £90 million order London tied to Iran's mining of the Strait of Hormuz.cNov 12 · UK MoD
Voices
“North Korea's government bankrolls its rogue regime and illicit weapons program through cryptocurrency theft.”
Principal Dep. AAG M. Scott Proctor, DOJ National Security · Nov 121
“[S]ecure, resilient, and diversified critical mineral supply chains are essential to the prosperity and national security of both countries.”
Joint Statement on U.S.–Japan Seabed Mineral Resource Development · Nov 122
“Nothing will stop the Trump Administration from identifying and dismantling drug trafficking networks.”
Attorney General Todd Blanche · Nov 123
“MEXICO MUST STOP THEM, NOW, and if they do not do so, the Tariffs on Mexico will be IMMEDIATELY DOUBLED.”
President Donald J. Trump · Nov 126
“The World Minerals Outlook gives us a clearer picture of where global critical mineral production is headed over the next five years.”
Andrew Stewart, lead author, USGS World Minerals Outlook · Nov 125
“By choosing the United States as its civil nuclear partner, Peru gains access to world-leading American technology, decades of proven regulatory and technical expertise.”
Under Sec. Thomas G. DiNanno, State Dept. · Nov 127
Sources
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “Justice Department Announces Actions to Disrupt North Korea's Massive Theft of Cryptocurrency,” November 12, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/north-korea-crypto-theft
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Joint Statement on U.S.-Japan Seabed Mineral Resource Development,” November 12, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/us-japan-seabed-minerals
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, “International Law Enforcement Operation Targeting Opioid and Fentanyl Traffickers on the Dark Web Results in over 350 Arrests Worldwide,” November 12, 2026. justice.gov/opa/pr/…/operation-tornado
- CISA, “Siemens Building Automation and Energy Products” (ICSA-26-316-01), November 12, 2026. cisa.gov/news-events/…/icsa-26-316-01
- U.S. Geological Survey, “USGS Projects World Production Capacity for 8 Critical Minerals from 2026 to 2030,” November 12, 2026. usgs.gov/news/…/world-minerals-outlook
- White House, “Caravans March North as Dems Vow to Reopen the Border. President Trump Won't Let It Happen.,” November 12, 2026. whitehouse.gov/releases/…/caravans-march-north
- U.S. Dept. of State, “Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Thomas G. DiNanno Advances Security Cooperation with Peru and Colombia,” November 12, 2026. state.gov/releases/…/dinanno-peru-colombia
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, “EIA forecasts Alaskan crude oil production to grow 13% in 2027,” November 12, 2026. eia.gov/todayinenergy/…/alaska-crude-2027
- Federal Reserve Bank of New York, “Banking System Vulnerability: 2026 Update,” Liberty Street Economics, November 12, 2026. libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/…/banking-system-vulnerability
- UK Prime Minister's Office, “Ukraine set to be focus of EPC summit as UK sanctions Russia's top ten oil producers,” November 12, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/uk-sanctions-russian-oil-producers
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO), “UK Explanation of Vote at the UN Security Council” (Yemen sanctions regime), November 12, 2026. gov.uk/government/speeches/…/yemen-sanctions-vote
- UK Ministry of Defence, “UK growth and security boosted as Royal Navy agrees export deal for new mine-hunting motherships,” November 12, 2026. gov.uk/government/news/…/mine-hunting-motherships