WASHINGTON — The United States on Thursday (Dec 12) offered a US$5 million (S$6.7 million) reward for information about an alleged scheme in which North Korean technology workers got jobs at unsuspecting US companies then stole their trade secrets for ransom, with the proceeds used to fund Pyongyang's weapons programs.

The US State Department said about 130 North Korean workers got IT jobs at US companies and nonprofits from 2017 to 2023 and generated at least US$88 million (S$118.6 million) that Pyongyang used for weapons of mass destruction.

Part of the total was the workers' compensation from the employers, which ultimately went to the North Korean government, the US said. The companies were not identified.

The North Korea mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The State Department said in a statement it sought information on two sanctioned North Korean companies — China-based Yanbian Silverstar Network Technology and Russia-based Volasys Silverstar — that it said handled the workers.

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