U.S. charges four Chinese nationals, China-based firm for evading sanctions on North Korea

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has charged four Chinese nationals and a China-based company for using front companies to evade U.S. sanctions on North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, the U.S Department of Justice said on Monday. The department said it had filed criminal charges against Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Co along with the four individuals for conspiring to violate sanctions rules and conspiring to engage in international money laundering. A civil forfeiture complaint was also filed, it added. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and Kevin Drawbaugh)