U.S. Imposes Additional Sanctions Over North Korean IT Workers’ Use of False Identities to Get Jobs

The U.S. government has imposed additional sanctions on 10 individuals and one entity involved in raising illicit funds through North Korean IT workers’ use of false identities to obtain jobs. The move reflects the U.S. government’s assessment that North Korea uses funds earned through this scheme to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missiles.

Reuters-Yonhap

On Oct. 28 (local time), the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said it had designated 10 individuals and one entity involved in North Korean IT workers’ use of false identities to obtain jobs and raise illicit funds. The individuals subject to sanctions are eight North Korean nationals and two Russian nationals.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department, North Korea has obtained hundreds of millions of dollars by disguising the identities of its IT workers and placing them in jobs at companies in the United States and its allies. The department said North Korean authorities recovered most of the wages earned by these workers and used the funds to develop WMD and ballistic missiles.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized the North Korean regime for exploiting U.S. companies through fraudulent schemes by overseas IT workers and extorting large sums by using sensitive information. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Treasury Department will use every tool at its disposal to protect U.S. companies from these malicious activities and hold those responsible accountable,” Secretary Bessent said.

In March, the U.S. Treasury Department also sanctioned six individuals and two entities in connection with North Korean IT workers’ use of false identities to obtain jobs.

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