Washington:The United States has announced sanctions against 10 individuals and one entity for their involvement in schemes that support North Korea's overseas information technology (IT) worker operations. These operations are reported to generate revenue for North Korea's weapons programs.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control has targeted networks assisting North Korean IT workers in securing employment at legitimate businesses, including some in the United States, by using stolen identities and fraudulent documents.
The sanctioned individuals include two Russian nationals accused of facilitating cryptocurrency transactions for North Korean operatives and eight North Koreans involved in managing overseas IT worker networks. The First Financial and Technical Development Center, a North Korean-controlled entity based in Russia, was also designated for using IT workers and advanced cryptocurrency transactions to funnel millions of dollars to Pyongyang.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Justice Department reported taking action against North Korean remote IT worker schemes that affected over 70 American companies, generating significant revenue alleged to be linked to the North Korean regime.