The department said it is "seeking information on North Korean information technology (IT) companies..... engaged in the exportation of North Korean IT workers, managers, and support staff to Yanji in China's Jilin Province and Vladivostok, Russia to generate revenue by deceiving U.S. and other businesses worldwide into hiring them as freelance IT workers. The companies then laundered their ill-gotten gains to benefit" the North Korean regime.
The move is part of its "Rewards for Justice" program, which offers rewards to individuals who provide critical information related to preventing terrorism and capturing terrorists in order to protect U.S. national security.
The department has sought information on two North Korean firms - China-based Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology and Russia-based Volasys Silverstar - while also releasing the English and Korean names of 14 individuals involved including their CEOs.
From April 2017 to 2023, they allegedly used the identities of hundreds of Americans, either stolen or obtained through fraud, and worked with around 130 North Korean IT workers to generate at least $88 million in revenue for North Korea.
They also installed remote access programs on laptops provided by U.S. companies and extorted money by threatening to release the stolen data including some sensitive company information.
The charges against them include wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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