"Insult Kim Jong-un" Test Exposed... North Korea's New "Face-Swap" Proxy Interview Tactic

Suspicions have been raised that North Korea is using foreign nationals as proxies to take job interviews on behalf of its IT workers illegally infiltrating Western companies.

According to NBC News, U.S. officials and cybersecurity industry insiders reported these circumstances, noting that North Korea's employment scam tactics are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

The new tactic involves putting forward nationals from third countries such as Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and South Africa to pose as actual job applicants and take video interviews instead.

Once they successfully secure employment through proxy interviews, North Korean IT workers take over the actual jobs.

Some proxy interviewees are even known to take tests on behalf of applicants or meet company officials in person.

According to security intelligence firm Flare, at least 14 Iranians have been recruited as proxy interviewees for North Korean IT teams since 2024.

Among them, at least two reportedly passed the hiring process at U.S. companies on behalf of North Korean applicants and even received formal job offers.

North Korea's use of foreign nationals as proxy interviewers appears to be a response to Western companies tightening identity verification procedures to block fraudulent employment.

North Korea has previously disguised its identity using AI filters to pass video interview processes at Western companies.

However, as some companies began asking candidates to perform various movements during video interviews or demanding that they criticize North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to check for AI filter use, North Korea seems to have opted for proxy examinees altogether.

NBC News reported that North Korea offered some Iranians a monthly salary of $500 in exchange for acting as proxy interviewees.

The United States estimates that thousands of IT personnel are involved in North Korea's fraudulent employment schemes.

A sanctions-monitoring report led by the U.S. Department of State estimated that North Korea earned up to $800 million through these means in 2024, which is approximately 1.08 trillion won in Korean currency.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.