North Korea's Money Maze: How Hackers and IT Workers Fund the Regime's Secrets

North Korea's Unusual Income Source North Korea employs a stealthy method to generate funds. They utilize hackers and IT workers to steal and launder money, which is then funneled into their weapons programs. The U.S. Treasury Department has recently imposed sanctions on 10 North Korean individuals and entities involved in these illicit activities.

The Bigger Picture

These hackers and IT workers are part of a larger issue. They assist North Korea in evading sanctions and funding their nuclear weapons program. According to the Treasury Department, North Korean hackers have stolen over $3 billion in the past three years. They employ malware and social engineering to execute these heists.

Sanctioned Entities and Tactics

One of the sanctioned entities is the Korea Mangyongdae Computer Technology Company (KMCTC). They deploy IT workers to China and use Chinese nationals as banking proxies to conceal the origin of their funds. Additionally, these IT workers collaborate with freelance programmers to secure jobs and split the revenue.

North Korea's IT Army

The Treasury Department has accused North Korea of using its IT army to secure jobs at various companies. They mask their nationality and identities to do so. Once employed, they remit a significant portion of their income back to North Korea.

U.S. Treasury's Stance

The U.S. Treasury Department is determined to halt these activities. They have imposed sanctions on those involved and plan to continue pursuing individuals and entities that aid North Korea in evading sanctions.