Watch this video of how a job interviewer exposes a North Korean fake IT worker
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THIS WEEK ONLY: Save close to $500 on your Disrupt pass. Offer ends April 10, 11:59 p.m. PT. Register here. Save up to $680 on your Disrupt 2026 pass. Ends 11:59 p.m. PT tonight. REGISTER NOW . Posted: Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai Watch this video of how a job interviewer exposes a North Korean fake IT worker For the last few years, North Koreans have gotten remote jobs at hundreds of Western companies pretending to be from somewhere else, using fake resumes, and sometimes with the help of American collaborators . It’s been a major problem for years, as North Korea remains highly sanctioned by the U.S. and European governments because of the regime’s banned nuclear weapons program, meaning companies are not allowed to hire North Koreans. Over time, someone realized that there could be a way to expose possible North Koreans during the interview process: Ask the suspected impostor to insult the country’s dictator Kim Jong Un, given that insulting him is illegal in the country and can result in harsh punishments. While this is a well-known strategy, we rarely see real-life examples of it working in real time. That’s exactly what happened in this video, which went viral on X . The clip shows a job interview during a video call, where the person hiring asks the job applicant to say “Kim Jong Un is a fat ugly pig.” Here is a video of a North Korean IT worker being stopped dead in their tracks upon being required to insult Kim Jong Un. It won't work forever, but right now it's genuinely an effective filter. I'm yet to come across one who can say it. https://t.co/8FFVPxNm8X pic.twitter.com/KXI5efMo5L The request appears to stump the job applicant, who gets visibly uncomfortable, pretends to have not understood the question, and then simply exits the interview. It’s important to note that this trick doesn’t always work. Some North Korean fake IT workers, particularly those who live in China or Russia, are not always under as strict supervision as the hackers within North Korea’s borders, and as such these tactics are not always effective strategies on their own. Topics StrictlyVC kicks off the year in SF. Get in the room for unfiltered fireside chats with industry leaders, insider VC insights, and high-value connections that actually move the needle. Tickets are limited. Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight. Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . Related Security North Korea’s hijack of one of the web’s most used open source projects was likely weeks in the making Zack Whittaker 13 hours ago Zack Whittaker Security Convicted spyware maker Bryan Fleming avoids jail at sentencing Zack Whittaker 17 hours ago Zack Whittaker Featured After fighting malware for decades, this cybersecurity veteran is now hacking drones Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai 3 days ago Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai Latest in Security In Brief Watch this video of how a job interviewer exposes a North Korean fake IT worker Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai 13 hours ago Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai Security North Korea’s hijack of one of the web’s most used open source projects was likely weeks in the making Zack Whittaker 13 hours ago Zack Whittaker TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 Ticket savings of up to $500 this week for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 TechCrunch Events 16 hours ago TechCrunch Events