US warns over risk of hiring North Korea IT workers

The US has warned that IT workers from North Korea are trying to get remote working jobs by hiding their true identities for the purpose of stealing money.

According to three US government agencies, many of them pretend to be from other parts of Asia.

They are helping to fund North Korea's weapons programmes in violation of international sanctions.

Several missile tests have been conducted by the country.

In March, North Korea tested a banned intercontinental missile.

The US State Department, US Treasury Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are all involved in the sanctions against the North Korean government.

The statement said that the workers are located in North Korea and other countries. The number is said to be based in Africa and South East Asia.

These IT workers take advantage of existing demands for specific IT skills, such as software and mobile application development, to obtain freelance employment contracts from clients around the world, including in North America, Europe, and East Asia.

The statement said that the privileged access gained as contractors has been used to enable the malicious cyber intrusions.

Penalties could be imposed on companies that hire North Korean workers.

Last month, the US linked North Korea-backed hackers to a $615m theft from players of the popular online game.

In April, a former US researcher was sentenced to more than five years in prison for helping North Korea evade US sanctions.

There is a non-profit organisation focused on the technology behind thecryptocurrencies ether.

He pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the US International Emergency Economic Powers Act by travelling to North Korea to give a presentation.

At the time of his arrest, the Ethereum Foundation said that it had not approved or supported his travel to North Korea.