11 Nations Issue Joint Warning on North Korean IT Workers' Disguised Employment Fundraising

North Korean IT workers' disguised employment abroad is funding nuclear weapons. The U.S., Japan, South Korea, and 11 other nations issued a joint advisory on the 31st (local time) exposing the reality of North Korean IT workers' disguised employment. They revealed that North Korean IT workers are forging identities to work remotely for overseas companies to generate funds for nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

According to the joint advisory, North Korean IT workers impersonate nationals of other countries to secure jobs via online platforms. Instead of bank transfers, they request cryptocurrency payments or receive salaries into third-party bank accounts before remitting the funds to North Korea. The advisory provided detection indicators for companies to identify suspicious activity, such as refusals to participate in video conferences, requests for cryptocurrency payments, and deposits into third-party accounts.

The participating nations reiterated that employing North Korean workers and providing payments is a criminal act violating UN Security Council resolutions and national sanctions. They emphasized the obligation to repatriate North Korean nationals generating such income.