A North Korean defector, identified as Jin-su, has revealed details of a vast, undercover scheme where thousands of North Koreans were sent abroad as secret IT workers to generate funds for the regime. These workers used hundreds of fake IDs to secure remote IT jobs with Western companies, with 85% of their earnings funding the isolated nation.

• Jin-su earned at least $5,000 (£3,750) monthly, sending most back to North Korea.
• The scheme generates an estimated $250 million-$600 million annually for North Korea, according to a UN Security Council report published in March 2024.
• Workers disguised their nationality to bypass international sanctions and impersonate Westerners for higher pay, often targeting US companies due to higher salaries.
• Last month, four North Koreans were indicted for allegedly using fraudulent identities to work for a US cryptocurrency firm.