Official announcements from the U.S. Department of Justice or international news agencies

U.S. Indicts 14 North Koreans in $88 Million Cyber Extortion Case Funding Weapons Program, Offers $5M Reward

Dec 12, 2024, 09:24 PM

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted 14 North Korean IT workers linked to a scheme that generated over $88 million through identity theft and extortion from American companies between 2017 and 2023. The FBI reported that these individuals operated remotely, using stolen identities to deceive Western firms, thereby funneling illicit gains to the North Korean government. This operation allegedly funded North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The workers were said to have used fronts in China and Russia to facilitate their activities. The indictment highlights ongoing concerns regarding North Korea's cyber operations and their impact on U.S. national security.