North Korean fake IT army of 100,000 nets Kim Jong-Un a cool $500 million a year — NK-aligned workers infiltrated in IT companies worldwide, feeding the nation's revenue generation

A report by IBM X-Force and Flare Research reveals a North Korean IT army of 100,000 workers generating around $500 million annually for Pyongyang through fake identities and infiltrating global IT companies. These workers, selected at a young age for their aptitude, often unaware of their true employer, specialize in .NET development, blockchain, and more. They use aliases, AI-generated photos, and fake credentials to secure freelance contracts, with some earning up to $300,000 per year. The scheme involves maintaining westernized personas and utilizing AI bots to complete tasks, with some westerners unknowingly involved in profit-sharing.