As the number of North Korean workers seeking employment with overseas IT companies to generate foreign currency increases, Amazon disclosed that it has detected 1,800 attempts by North Koreans to join the company since April of last year.
On April 22, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that Steven Schmidt, Amazon’s Chief Security Officer, said on LinkedIn on April 18 that North Korean workers have been attempting to secure remote IT jobs with companies worldwide, particularly targeting U.S. businesses. He said their objective is to receive salaries and funnel those funds into the regime’s weapons programs.
Schmidt explained that since April 2024, they have blocked over 1,800 individuals suspected of being North Korean operatives from joining the company. This year, they have observed a 27% quarterly increase in North Korean-related job applications.
According to Schmidt, North Koreans hack dormant LinkedIn accounts to gain authentication, receive payment for account access, and often collaborate with operators of laptop farms.
Laptop farms are illegal workspaces set up to enable North Korean IT personnel to disguise their employment with American companies and work remotely. These operations involve installing multiple laptops at specific U.S. locations, allowing North Korean workers to connect remotely and appear as if they are working from home within the United States.
Schmidt noted that typical characteristics of North Korean workers include providing inconsistent or inaccurate educational background information and listing incorrect phone numbers.
He warned that the issue extends beyond Amazon and is likely widespread across the tech industry.
Schmidt urged anyone who identifies individuals suspected of being North Korean agents to report them to law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Instances of North Korean operatives securing employment with overseas IT companies to generate foreign currency have been frequently uncovered. In July, a woman in Arizona was sentenced to over eight years in prison for operating a laptop farm that helped North Korean IT workers secure remote jobs with more than 300 American companies. Through this scheme, she and North Korea reportedly generated over 17 million USD in revenue.