Security News > 2022 > December > North Korea using freelance techies to fund missiles and nukes
North Korean IT pros are using freelancing platforms to earn money that the nation's authoritarian government uses to fund the development of missiles and nuclear weapons, according to South Korea's government.
"DPRK IT workers are located all around the world, obfuscating their nationality and identities. They earn hundreds of millions of dollars a year by engaging in a wide range of IT development work, including freelance work platforms and cryptocurrency development."
To hide their origins and purpose, North Korean IT workers forge fake identities.
The South has spotted other characteristic behaviors of North Korean freelancers, among them multiple logins into one account from various IP addresses in a relatively short period of time, and new developer accounts on freelance platforms using the same or similar documents employed by existing accounts.
"Therefore, the act of offering employment to DPRK IT workers and paying for their work accompanies reputational risks and potential legal consequences [and] the possibility of violating relevant UN Security Council resolutions."
South Korea's warning concludes by expressing hope the document "Will prove to be helpful in establishing a more secure and reliable online freelance work system and also contribute towards cutting off DPRK's illicit foreign currency revenues which are used for its nuclear and missile development." .