US warns against hiring North Korean IT workers posing as non
A North Korean flag flies on a mast at the Permanent Mission of North Korea in Geneva, Oct., 2014. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, North Korea is dispatching thousands of skilled IT workers overseas to seek employment while posing as U.S.-based or non-North Korean nationals. Reuters-Yonhap
North Korea is dispatching thousands of skilled IT workers overseas to seek employment while posing as U.S.-based or non-North Korean nationals, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said Monday.
The revenue raised from such illicit employment may be funneled into North Korea's weapons of mass destruction programs, the department said in the advisory jointly issued by the State Department and FBI.
They said the advisory was to warn of "attempts by Democratic People's Republic of Korea information technology (IT) workers to obtain employment while posing as non-North Korean nationals," adding the North Korean workers often "represent themselves as U.S.-based and/or non-North Korean teleworkers."
"The DPRK dispatches thousands of highly skilled IT workers around the world to generate revenue that contributes to its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs, in violation of U.S. and UN sanctions," said the advisory.
"These IT workers take advantage of existing demands for specific IT skills, such as software and mobile application development, to obtain freelance employment contracts from clients around the world," it added.
North Korea is said to be increasingly relying on its hackers to steal and launder virtual currency to fund its weapons programs.
The advisory said North Korean IT workers that are hired "normally engage in IT work distinct from malicious cyber activity" but that they may use the access they have gained as contractors to enable the North's malicious cyber intrusions.
It said hiring North Korean IT workers may carry "reputational risks, as well as the "potential for legal consequences" for violating U.S. and U.N. Security Council sanctions on the North.
"Additionally, there are likely instances where workers are subjected to forced labor," it added.
State Department Press Secretary Ned Price also highlighted the risks associated with hiring North Korean IT workers.
"Hiring or supporting the activities of DPRK IT workers poses many risks, ranging from theft of intellectual property, data, and funds to reputational harm and legal consequences, including sanctions under both United States and United Nations authorities," he said in a released statement.
"The United States is committed to disrupting illicit DPRK revenue-generating activities, which may facilitate criminal activity, provide direct support to the DPRK's unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, and threaten international peace and security," he added. (Yonhap)
- 最近发表
-
- US Open 2024 livestream: How to watch US Open tennis for free
- [Herald Interview] Artist behind controversial ‘Shoes Tree’ talks about her work
- Facebook is down and everyone across the globe is freaking out
- Chalmers takes heart from Popovici flop
- US Open 2024 livestream: How to watch US Open tennis for free
- Barca's Juve friendly cancelled
- Twitter will test reply limiting feature to beat back trolls
- Open approach to NK at odds with rest of world
- Klarna CEO reveals plan to reduce workforce by 50% and replace it with AI
- 9 things we learned from MrBeast's Rolling Stone cover story
- 随机阅读
-
- Scientists discover where the huge dinosaur
- Twitter reacts to Elon Musk's offer to buy Twitter for $41 billion
- Facebook is down and everyone across the globe is freaking out
- 图集|元旦与你“乡”约,来郁南桂圩赴会浪漫嘉年华
- Expanded police surveillance will get us “broken windows” on steroids.
- Dragoni is the face of new Italy
- Smith sets sights on Dutch
- Facebook is down and everyone across the globe is freaking out
- Washington Mystics vs. Chicago Sky 2024 livestream: Watch live WNBA
- Philippines vow to 'crash the party' against N Zealand
- 劣质低价厂商遭淘汰,速冻丸子行业迎来大洗牌
- 南农晨读丨天天有鱼 年年有余
- U.S. Senators call on FTC to investigate the security of drivers' data
- The Tesla of motorcycles probably doesn't have to worry about Tesla
- 雨城区公安分局交警大队关注开学期间交通安全
- Fernandes, Sancho give United win over Arsenal
- What to expect when a tech bubble bursts
- Tinder's Festival Mode lets you find people going to the same shows
- Scam Alert: Amazon Prime Video users are being tricked into paying fake fees
- Facebook is down and everyone across the globe is freaking out
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-