Allegations have emerged that North Korea is using foreign nationals as proxies to take job interviews on behalf of its IT workers disguisedly employed by Western companies.

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

The new tactic used by North Korea involves putting forward job seekers from third countries such as Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and South Africa to conduct video interviews instead.

Once they succeed in securing employment through proxy interviews, North Korean IT workers take over the actual tasks.

Some proxy interviewees are reportedly taking tests on their behalf or even meeting company officials in person.

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

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

North Korea's use of foreign nationals as proxy interviewees appears to be a response to stricter identity verification procedures implemented by Western companies to block disguised employment.

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

However, as some companies began asking candidates to perform various motions during video interviews or demanding that they criticize North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to check for the use of AI filters, they reportedly turned to proxy applicants 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 disguised employment operations.

A sanctions monitoring report led by the U.S. Department of State estimated that North Korea earned up to $800 million through these activities in 2024, equivalent to 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