The Government of Canada has issued a joint advisory warning Canadian businesses about the risks of unknowingly hiring North Korean IT workers posing as foreign freelancers.
The alert, issued by the RCMP, Public Safety Canada, Global Affairs, FINTRAC, and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, highlights the potential for legal consequences, data breaches, and corporate espionage.
Officials say these workers may be indirectly supporting North Korea’s prohibited weapons and missile programs, in violation of United Nations sanctions. Companies are urged to conduct due diligence when hiring remote IT professionals and report any suspicious activity.