BlockBeats News, on August 28, the United States, Japan, and South Korea issued a joint statement regarding North Korean IT personnel, stating that the three countries will continue to unite and jointly address the threats posed by North Korean IT personnel. North Korea continues to send IT personnel around the world to profit, using the funds earned to finance illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs that violate United Nations Security Council resolutions. The United States, Japan, and South Korea express serious concern over the increasingly malicious activities of North Korean IT personnel.
North Korean IT personnel use various means to disguise themselves as non-North Korean IT workers, employing false identities and addresses for deception, including the use of artificial intelligence tools and collusion with foreign accomplices. They take advantage of the existing demand in the market for advanced IT skills, securing freelance contracts from an ever-expanding target client base around the world, including North America, Europe, and East Asia. North Korean IT personnel are also likely involved in malicious cyber activities, particularly in the blockchain industry. Hiring, supporting, or outsourcing work to North Korean IT personnel increasingly poses serious risks, including theft of intellectual property, data, and funds, as well as reputational damage and various legal consequences.