Defector Reveals North Korea's Secret IT Scheme Funding the Regime

Sat Oct 18 2025 22:09:12 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A North Korean defector, Jin-su, sheds light on the covert IT operation that funds the regime through remote work, utilizing fake IDs to secure jobs.

Jin-su, a North Korean IT worker who defected, disclosed details about a clandestine operation that sends workers abroad to raise funds for the regime. Earning thousands monthly, most of Jin-su's income was sent back to North Korea, where strict monitoring and international sanctions complicate their operations. Despite revealing the scheme, he expresses the harsh realities of life under oppressive North Korean control.

Jin-su, a defector from North Korea, has exposed a vast undercover operation where thousands of North Korean IT workers are sent abroad, primarily to China and Russia, to raise funds for the regime. In an exclusive interview, he revealed to the BBC that he used numerous fake identities to secure remote IT jobs with firms across the United States and Europe, earning at least $5,000 (£3,750) monthly, with some colleagues reportedly earning even more.

The regime closely monitors its IT workers, who rarely speak out, making Jin-su's account particularly significant. He explained that approximately 85% of his earnings were sent back to North Korea, a country struggling under stringent international sanctions due to its nuclear initiatives. “We know it’s like robbery, but we just accept it as our fate,” he remarked, emphasizing the dire circumstances many face while acknowledging that it was better than life in North Korea.

According to a UN Security Council report released in March 2024, North Korean IT operations are estimated to generate between $250 million and $600 million annually. This illicit network thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic when remote employment surged. Many workers were compelled to send substantial portions of their incomes back home; however, some resorted to hacking and extortion. In a recent case, 14 North Koreans faced indictment for swindling $88 million from various US companies over six years.

Jin-su worked for the regime in China for years before defecting. With limited internet access in North Korea, these workers often relied on collaborative teams to navigate their assignments abroad. To circumvent international sanctions, they frequently disguised their nationalities, targeting economic opportunities by impersonating Westerners. Jin-su shared his experience, stating he initially posed as Chinese and used borrowed identities to apply for positions in Western markets, mostly targeting US companies.

Most IT workers utilize online freelancing platforms which do not necessitate direct interviews, thus enabling them to blend in seamlessly. Jin-su indicated that many companies unknowingly hired multiple North Korean workers for the same role, complicating the domestic hiring landscape.

Despite the inherent risks involved, few North Korean IT workers consider defection, preferring to return home after their assignments. Jin-su himself is among the rare exceptions, having escaped the oppressive regime that limited his freedom. Living and working abroad has allowed him greater access to Western culture, giving him perspective on the realities of life back home.

While working for the regime, he felt suffocated by strict rules and surveillance. In stark contrast to his previous life, Jin-su now appreciates the ability to retain his earnings and work legitimately within the tech industry, albeit earning less than when he was under the regime's thumb. He expressed the sense of fulfillment in earning an honest wage, saying, “I had got used to making money by doing illegal things. But now I work hard and earn the money I deserve.”