FBI investigating how a North Korean IT worker was hired by the US government
The FBI is investigating how a North Korean IT worker obtained a remote job inside a U.S. federal agency.
FBI deputy assistant director Todd Hemmen revealed on July 28 that the bureau is investigating how a North Korean IT professional was hired by a U.S. government agency. Hemmen, speaking at a Digital Government Institute conference in Washington, acknowledged the case seemed "a little bit baffling" and expressed his own confusion about how the worker secured employment.
The specific duties of the individual remain undisclosed, as does whether they accessed sensitive systems or data. North Korea's IT worker scheme, which involves sending skilled laborers abroad to secure remote positions fraudulently, is estimated to generate between $250 million and $600 million annually for the regime. The United Nations has documented this annual revenue stream, with Pyongyang using the funds to support its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
Experts have pointed out that the government's involvement in the case highlights gaps in both public sector and private industry vetting processes, particularly for IT support roles. Following Hemmen's remarks, the U.S. joined 10 other countries in Asia and Europe in warning companies against hiring North Korean IT workers, stating in a July 31 joint statement that their labor directly funds Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
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