The United States has dismantled an elaborate network that allegedly helped North Koreans secretly secure remote IT jobs with American companies—generating millions of dollars used to bankroll the country’s banned weapons program.

According to a statement released on Monday by the US Department of Justice, authorities have arrested a US citizen, Zhenxing Wang from New Jersey, and indicted six Chinese nationals and two Taiwanese citizens. They are accused of orchestrating a scheme that allowed North Korean operatives to pose as remote tech workers for US businesses.

The Justice Department revealed that the network compromised the identities of more than 80 unsuspecting Americans. Using these stolen identities, North Korean IT specialists were able to land jobs at over 100 US companies, including several Fortune 500 firms. This deception reportedly brought in more than $5 million—money that prosecutors say was funneled back to North Korea to support its nuclear and missile ambitions.

“These schemes steal from US companies and directly fund North Korea’s illicit weapons programs,” said Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg. He warned that by embedding themselves in legitimate businesses, these operatives threaten both corporate security and global stability.

US Attorney Leah Foley echoed these concerns, describing the threat as “real and immediate.” She noted that thousands of North Korean cyber specialists have been trained specifically to blend into the global tech workforce, systematically targeting American firms for profit and intelligence.

The indictment also highlights even darker angles to the plot. Some of the remote workers didn’t just collect paychecks—they also stole sensitive company data, including export-controlled military technology and virtual currency.

China, whose nationals were implicated in the indictment, pushed back through its foreign ministry. Spokeswoman Mao Ning stressed that China opposes unilateral sanctions not backed by international law or the UN Security Council and pledged to protect the “legitimate rights and interests” of Chinese citizens.

This latest bust underscores the complex tactics North Korea uses to circumvent global sanctions and secure funding for its weapons development. It also serves as a sobering reminder to companies everywhere to bolster their hiring verification processes and cybersecurity defenses—especially as remote work becomes the norm.