The spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS) denounced North Korea’s cyber activities on Friday 31 July, saying that they are “increasingly causing significant financial harm to the EU, its Member States and their partners”, in particular private companies.
“These activities help the DPRK to fund its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and pose a threat to international security and stability”, he explained in a statement.
The spokesperson emphasised the EU’s concerns regarding the ‘IT worker’ system, under which North Korean agents offer remote services under false identities to generate income for the country. “Increased awareness and a strong and unified response are key to countering this threat”, he argued.
Alongside the EEAS statement, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the United States, South Korea, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom condemned the network of workers in a joint statement (https://aeur.eu/f/n32 ). They urged all countries, companies and entities to deepen their understanding of North Korean IT worker programmes and to implement measures to counter their tactics.
Recalling that the EU had already acted against North Korea’s malicious cyber activities, notably by using its sanctions regimes, the EEAS spokesperson warned that the EU would step up its action. “We will continue to work with our partners to prevent, deter and respond to this threat to ensure international security and stability and a global, open, free, stable and secure cyberspace”, he promised. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)