US sanctions fraud network used by North Korean ‘remote IT workers’ to seek jobs and steal money

The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on a fraud network used by North Korea to generate funds for its nuclear weapons program. According to the Treasury Department, the network exploited remote IT jobs to steal money and support the North Korean regime. The sanctions target a group of individuals and entities located in China, Russia, and elsewhere that were involved in the scheme. The network was used to recruit North Korean "remote IT workers" to apply for jobs, often misrepresenting their identities and qualifications. Once hired, the workers would then divert their salaries to the North Korean government. The Treasury Department says the sanctions are part of an ongoing effort to disrupt North Korea's ability to fund its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The move is the latest in a series of U.S. actions aimed at cracking down on North Korea's illicit financial activities and undermining its capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction.