OFSI Issues Advisory On North Korean IT Workers

On 12 September, OFSI issued an advisory note, which emphasises threats to the compliance with UK and UN sanctions relating to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ("DPRK"). Those threats relate to DPRK's IT workers fraudulently gaining employment with UK, US and other overseas companies to raise revenue for the North Korean regime.

The DPRK is subject to the UN, UK and other international sanctions aimed at countering proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. Individuals and companies that employ or pay DPRK IT workers can indirectly or directly breach the financial sanctions in place.

A breach of the UK financial sanctions may constitute a civil and/or criminal offence, with heavy financial penalties or imprisonment for up to 7 years.