North Korea Mobilizes Foreigners for Disguised Employment in U.S. Companies... "500 Dollars in Cryptocurrency for Proxy Interview"

▲ North Korea, Cryptocurrency, IT personnel, Hacking/AI-generated image

Reports indicate that North Korea is expanding its methods of infiltrating U.S. companies and targeting cryptocurrencies by leveraging IT personnel from third countries.

According to Cointelegraph on September 13 (local time), North Korea is utilizing remote workers from third countries such as Iran and Lebanon in the process of gaining employment with U.S. companies. The method involves foreign personnel passing recruitment interviews and securing contracts, after which North Korean personnel take over the actual work. It is reported that North Korea uses the income obtained from this for its weapons programs.

An alert issued by the U.S. government and various international organizations last July detailed the modus operandi of North Korean IT personnel. The alert pointed out that they “seek contracts for the purpose of remitting salaries to higher-level North Korean entities.” It also warned of the risk of their involvement in data leaks, cryptocurrency theft, and the pilfering of sensitive information after infiltrating companies.

LinkedIn was also reportedly used to recruit third-country personnel. Some foreign IT personnel were offered approximately $500 worth of cryptocurrency monthly for acting as part-time interview collaborators. It is analyzed that as the U.S. and other countries blocked North Korea's disguised employment, the tactic of using foreigners from the interview stage increased.

The scale of damage from North Korea-linked cybercrime is also growing. According to a Cointelegraph report citing cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, North Korean government-linked hackers and threat actors were responsible for over $2 billion in cryptocurrency losses in 2025, a 51% increase from the previous year.

Despite ongoing international sanctions, the North Korean economy is estimated to have grown. The Bank of Korea estimated that North Korea's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 3.5% in 2025. Warnings continue that North Korea's methods of securing foreign currency, combining infiltration of U.S. companies and cryptocurrency theft, are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

[Article Summary]

-North Korea is using a method where it deploys IT personnel from third countries for recruitment interviews in U.S. companies, then hands over the actual work to North Korean personnel.

-Some foreign personnel were reportedly offered approximately $500 worth of cryptocurrency monthly as compensation for interviews.

-Cryptocurrency losses caused by North Korea-linked hackers and threat actors in 2025 exceeded $2 billion, a 51% increase from the previous year.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*