WASHINGTON—A U.S. federal judge ordered three Chinese banks to provide documents sought by a grand jury and federal prosecutors investigating a Hong Kong-based front company for North Korea’s nuclear program, according to an opinion unsealed late Tuesday. The ruling is the second known instance of prosecutors relying on a rarely used tool in the Patriot Act, marking a major escalation in the U.S. government’s efforts to block North Korea’s ability to circumvent sanctions and access the international financial system.

Source: Wall Street Journal May 01, 2019 02:25 UTC