The European Union (EU) signaled additional action, saying financial damage to member states, partner countries, and private corporations is growing due to North Korea's cyber activities.
On the 31st (local time), Russia's Interfax reported that the EU External Action Service (EEAS) said in a statement, "These activities help North Korea fund its illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs and threaten international security and stability."
The EEAS said it shares concerns raised by partner countries, including Japan, about the so-called "IT workforce disguised employment method," in which North Korean operatives use aliases to pose as remote information technology (IT) specialists, get hired by corporations, and generate revenue. Korea, the United States, and Japan have also noted that North Korea's theft of virtual assets and IT workforce activities serve as funding sources for weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.
The EU stressed that raising global awareness and a united response are needed to counter North Korea's cyber threats. At the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in Évian, France, on June 16–17, leaders also included in their communiqué the need for a joint response to North Korea's virtual asset theft and cybercrime.
The EEAS said, "We support partner countries in responding to these methods," adding, "The EU has responded to North Korea's malicious cyber activities by using its sanctions regime and will take additional measures going forward." The EU operates a sanctions regime that freezes the assets of individuals and entities involved in cyberattacks and restricts their entry into the bloc.