US Offers $5 Million Reward for North Korean IT Scheme

The U.S. government has announced a $5 million reward for information disrupting North Korean IT operations that illegally profited at least $88 million from 2017 to 2023 by employing North Korean workers in U.S. companies. Two front companies, Yanbian Silverstar in China and Volasys Silverstar in Russia, orchestrated this scheme, which involved over 130 North Korean 'IT warriors' who used stolen identities to secure employment while sending earnings back to Pyongyang for weapons development. The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted 14 individuals connected to these operations for various crimes, including fraud and money laundering. Additionally, the U.S. aims to raise awareness among businesses to guard against such malicious activities linked to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). This initiative is part of broader efforts to curb North Korea's funding of its weapons programs and mitigate global security risks. The announcement follows a history of significant financial seizures associated with these illicit activities.