Major Entertainment Studios Unknowingly Employ North Korean Animators, Violating Sanctions

Investigations reveal North Korean animators worked on popular U.S. and Japanese shows without the knowledge of hiring studios.

Documents on a North Korean server indicate subcontracting to North Korean animators for shows like Amazon's 'Invincible' and HBO Max's 'Iyanu: Child of Wonder'.
Cybersecurity firms and think tanks suspect North Korean studio April 26 Animation, under U.S. sanctions, is involved.
No evidence suggests major studios were aware of the North Korean subcontracting.
Subcontracting likely occurred through Chinese intermediaries, complicating oversight and compliance with sanctions.
Calls for increased due diligence in animation outsourcing to prevent sanctions violations and security risks.