Establishing diverse channels for generating financial resources through both legitimate and illicit means, ensuring a sustainable flow of funds for proliferation activities. This includes exploiting legal business fronts, non-profit organizations, and informal financial systems.
This can be achieved through various means, both licit and illicit:
- State budgets: Some countries may allocate funds from their national budgets towards WMD programs.
- Commercial activities: Proliferators might engage in seemingly legitimate commercial activities to generate revenue that can be diverted towards WMD programs. This might involve exploiting natural resources or engaging in international trade.
- Illicit activities: Criminal activities, such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, or cybercrime, can provide a source of funding. North Korea, for instance, has been linked to cyberattacks targeting financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges.