US lawmaker introduces bill to counter N.K. IT worker schemes

The bill would authorize the secretary of state to collaborate with U.S. allies and partners to detect, attribute, and disrupt North Korea's IT worker schemes and other illicit revenue-generating activities. This initiative comes amid heightened international cooperation to address Pyongyang's financial activities, driven by concerns over its advancing nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Key provisions of the bill include coordinating sanctions and measures with allies, enhancing information sharing, and engaging with private-sector entities possessing relevant technical expertise. It also proposes increasing rewards for information concerning IT worker schemes and weapons of mass destruction proliferation networks.

Furthermore, the legislation mandates that the secretary of state submit a report on North Korea's IT worker schemes and efforts to counter them to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. This report is due no later than 180 days after the act's enactment and will be required annually for two years thereafter. Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) is a co-sponsor of the bill.