The U.S. Department of State, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), partnered with cybersecurity firm Mandiant to organize a forum in Tokyo on August 26. The event brought together more than 130 participants from the three governments as well as industry representatives from freelance work platforms, payment service providers, cryptocurrency firms, AI companies, and other Web3 technology organizations.
These sectors are often targeted by North Korean actors who use illicit IT work schemes to generate revenue. The forum aimed to enhance cooperation between public and private entities to defend against these tactics.
North Korean state-backed IT workers have been found to contribute funds to the country’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. These activities violate U.S. sanctions and several United Nations Security Council resolutions. Companies that engage with such workers risk data theft, loss of assets, reputational damage, legal issues, and may become targets for further cyberattacks by North Korean groups.
A spokesperson for the U.S. government stated: “The United States remains committed to combatting North Korea’s sanctions violations and will continue to strengthen collaboration with Japan, the Republic of Korea, and our industry partners to address this threat.”
The initiative reflects ongoing efforts among allied nations and private sector stakeholders to counter cyber-enabled threats posed by North Korea’s use of international IT channels for illicit purposes.
