For years, North Korea has deployed skilled IT workers abroad under false identities to funnel millions back to the regime—a covert operation that thrives on deception and exploitation. One defector, speaking under a pseudonym for safety, shared his firsthand account of this shadowy network, revealing how he and others earned thousands monthly while evading international sanctions.
Disguised as freelancers from Western nations, these workers secure remote jobs, often in the U.S. and Europe, where salaries are higher. They rely on stolen or borrowed identities, sometimes paying intermediaries to use their profiles. “Posing as an Asian applicant gets you nowhere,” the defector explained. “You need a Western identity to land the job.”
Authorities estimate this scheme generates up to $600 million annually for Pyongyang, with workers surrendering most of their earnings. “We knew it was wrong, but it was our reality,” the defector admitted. While some focus solely on legitimate work, others have engaged in hacking or data theft, prompting indictments in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Life abroad offers limited freedom. Workers live under strict surveillance, barred from leaving their residences. Yet exposure to the outside world plants seeds of doubt. “You start to see how different life could be,” the defector said. Still, few risk escape—repatriation means severe punishment, and defectors often leave families vulnerable to retaliation.
Now rebuilding his life, the former IT worker earns less but keeps his income. “I used to profit from lies,” he said. “Now I work honestly.” His story underscores the regime’s desperation for foreign currency—and the human cost of its global scams.
As remote work expands, experts warn that North Korea’s digital labor force will only grow, exploiting gaps in hiring practices to fund a regime under siege.
