United States, South Korea, Japan address North Korean IT threats

U.S., Japanese and South Korean officials met in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss ways to thwart an illicit tech workers scheme that enables North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, to fund his nation’s arms development. File Photo by KCNA/EPA-EFE

Aug. 26 (UPI) — The United States, Japan and South Korea teamed with U.S. cybersecurity firm Mandiant to oppose North Korean Internet technology worker schemes on Tuesday.

Officials for the three nations joined with representatives of more than 130 tech firms for a conference in Tokyo to discuss threats from a North Korean IT worker services scheme aimed at stealing valuable information and cryptocurrency.

“North Korean state-directed IT workers generate revenue for North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs,” a Department of State spokesperson said in a news release on Tuesday.

The IT workers scheme violates U.S. sanctions and many U.N. Security Council resolutions, while exposing companies to theft of sensitive data and assets, according to the State Department.

The IT worker scheme commonly targets tech firms in the United States, Japan, South Korea and elsewhere.

The tech firms often are involved in freelance work platforms, payment services, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence and Web3 technologies.

Many hire remote workers, which has enabled North Korean operatives to obtain remote positions with tech firms with the help of individuals in the United States and other targeted nations.

The remote tech workers funnel their earnings to the North Korean government, while undertaking cybertheft and other illegal activities to support their government.

Tuesday’s Tokyo forum was co-hosted by Mandiant, which is a U.S. cybersecurity firm and a subsidiary of Google that describes itself as a “recognized leader in dynamic cyber defense, threat intelligence and incident response services.”

The forum enabled attendees to better learn about the North Korean scheme and how they could work together to more effectively identify and thwart the illegal activities.