North Korean operatives target tech jobs

North Korean nationals are getting hired for remote IT jobs worldwide, especially in the U.S., and are then sending money to fund DPRK weapons programs. Stephen Schmidt, a senior vice president and chief security officer at Amazon, wrote in a LinkedIn post that the company has “stopped more than 1,800 suspected DPRK operatives” since April 2024, noting that DPRK-affiliated applications are rapidly rising. Schmidt says the operatives are increasingly engaging in identity theft; are using more sophisticated strategies to stand out on LinkedIn; and are targeting AI roles because of high demand. “This isn’t Amazon-specific,” he writes. “This is likely happening at scale across the country.” He urges companies to contact the FBI or local law enforcement if they identify suspected DPRK IT workers.