US technology giant Amazon has revealed that it blocked more than 1,800 North Koreans from joining the company, amid concerns that Pyongyang is sending IT workers abroad to earn and launder money.
In a LinkedIn post, Amazon’s Chief Security Officer Stephen Schmidt said North Korean workers have been trying to secure remote IT jobs at companies around the world, especially in the United States. He noted that Amazon recorded nearly a one-third increase in such applications over the past year.
Schmidt explained that these workers often rely on so-called “laptop farms,” where computers physically located in the US are operated remotely from outside the country. He warned that this issue is not limited to Amazon and is likely affecting many firms across the tech industry. According to Schmidt, common warning signs include incorrectly formatted phone numbers and suspicious or fake academic credentials. These red flags help companies identify applicants linked to North Korea.
The concern is not new. In July, a woman in Arizona was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for running a laptop farm that helped North Korean IT workers land remote jobs at over 300 US companies. Authorities said the operation generated more than $17 million for both the woman and North Korea.
South Korea’s intelligence agency has also raised alarms. Last year, it warned that North Korean operatives used LinkedIn to pose as recruiters and contact South Koreans working in defence companies to steal sensitive information.
Analysts say North Korea has been investing heavily in cyber operations for decades. Its cyber unit, known as Bureau 121, reportedly includes around 6,000 members operating from several countries. The US Treasury has accused North Korean-linked hackers of stealing more than $3 billion in recent years, mainly through cryptocurrency, to fund the regime’s weapons programmes.
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