The U.S. government has announced a reward of up to $5 million, approximately 7.15 billion Korean won, for information related to North Korean IT workers’ overseas dispatch and money laundering activities. This public bounty targets North Korean telecommunications companies in China and Russia suspected of involvement.
On the 12th local time, the State Department requested tips regarding activities such as the overseas dispatch of North Korean workers, money laundering, and the support of North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction proliferation through its “Rewards for Justice” program.
The State Department is seeking information on North Korean companies “Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology” in China and “Volasys Technology” in Russia.
The North Korean companies’ top executives, including CEO Jung Sung-hwa, Silverstar’s representative Kim Ryoo-sung, and Volasys’ representative Lee Kyung-sik, along with 14 other company representatives and employees, have had their names disclosed both in English and Korean.
These companies are accused of dispatching North Korean IT workers and managers to Yanji, Jilin in China, and Vladivostok in Russia, disguising them as freelancers to employ them in companies worldwide, including in the U.S., the State Department explained.
Furthermore, the State Department emphasized that the illegal profits earned through these activities were laundered to benefit North Korea.
From April 2017 to 2023, they allegedly used hundreds of stolen or borrowed American identities along with about 130 North Korean IT workers to generate at least $88 million, approximately 125.9 billion won, for North Korea.
Additionally, they reportedly extorted money by installing remote access programs on laptops received from U.S. companies and threatening to release sensitive company information online.
The U.S. State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” program compensates individuals providing information on terrorism prevention, the capture of terrorist leaders, or threats against U.S. security.
[Photo source: Yonhap News / Screenshot from U.S. State Department X]
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