US, allies warn N. Korean IT workers funding country's weapons program

The United States and 10 Asian and European allies issued an alert Friday, warning companies against employing North Korean IT workers whose labor was generating crucial foreign currency to fund Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

"North Korea relies upon a network of skilled Information Technology (IT) workers, deployed within and outside of North Korea, to obtain false identities and remotely earn income to fund North Korea's unlawful nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs," read a joint statement issued by the countries.

In addition to the United States, other countries issuing the alert included Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.