The Straits Times

Amazon says over 1,800 North Koreans blocked from applying for jobs at tech giant

BBC News

Amazon blocks 1,800 job applications from suspected North Korean agents

LinkedIn

Over the past few years, North Korean (DPRK) nationals have been attempting to secure remote IT jobs with companies worldwide, particularly in the U.S. Their objective is typically straightforward:

The Business Standard

Amazon blocks 1,800 job applications linked to suspected North Korean hackers

Bloomberg

Amazon Caught North Korean It Worker By Tracing Keystroke Data

Taipei Times

Amazon blocks North Koreans from applying for jobs

North Korean agents are trying to infiltrate Amazon, chief security officer says

Cambodianess

Amazon Says Blocked 1,800 North Koreans from Applying for Jobs

Hindustan Times

Amazon blocks 1,800 North Koreans from applying for jobs

Fox 28 Spokane

Amazon says blocked 1,800 North Koreans from applying for jobs

TechInsights

Amazon Blocks 1,800 North Korean Job Scams Using AI Security

Business Insider

Amazon's chief security officer says the tech giant blocked over 1,800 suspected North Korean agents from applying for jobs

Firstpost

Amazon blocks 1,800 North Koreans IT workers from entering the company

English

RTE.ie

TechRadar

Amazon is reportedly being deluged with North Korean job applicants eager to break inside its walls

The Hindu

Tom's Hardware

Over 1,800 North Korean applicants flood Amazon  suspected illicit applicants blocked by the company since April 2024

Amazon reportedly blocked more than 1,800 suspected North Korean operatives from joining the company since April 2024, according to Chief Security Officer Stephen Schmidt. The company detected a 27% increase in North Korea-affiliated applications quarter over quarter this year.

Amazon reportedly blocked more than 1,800 suspected North Korean operatives from joining the company since April 2024, according to Chief Security Officer Stephen Schmidt. The company detected a 27% increase in North Korea-affiliated applications quarter over quarter this year.

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2023/us-seizes-website-domains-used-by-north-korean-tech-workers">North Korean workers typically use laptop farms</a>, which are computers physically located in the United States but operated remotely from outside the country. In July, an Arizona woman was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for running such a farm.

North Korean workers typically use laptop farms, which are computers physically located in the United States but operated remotely from outside the country. In July, an Arizona woman was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for running such a farm.

The Arizona laptop farm scheme allegedly helped <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/doj-disrupts-north-korean-it-worker-schemes-across-us">North Korean IT workers secure remote jobs </a>at more than 300 U.S. companies and generated over $17 million in revenue for the woman and North Korea, according to officials.

The Arizona laptop farm scheme allegedly helped North Korean IT workers secure remote jobs at more than 300 U.S. companies and generated over $17 million in revenue for the woman and North Korea, according to officials.

Amazon uses a combination of AI-powered screening systems and human verification to detect fraudulent applications. Indicators reportedly include wrongly formatted phone numbers and inconsistent education histories.

Amazon uses a combination of AI-powered screening systems and human verification to detect fraudulent applications. Indicators reportedly include wrongly formatted phone numbers and inconsistent education histories.

North Korea's cyber-warfare program dates back to at least the mid-1990s and has grown into a 6,000-strong cyber unit known as Bureau 121, which operates from several countries, according to a 2020 U.S. military report.

North Korea's cyber-warfare program dates back to at least the mid-1990s and has grown into a 6,000-strong cyber unit known as Bureau 121, which operates from several countries, according to a 2020 U.S. military report.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has accused North Korea-affiliated cybercriminals of stealing over $3 billion over the past three years, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/north-korean-hackers-pull-off-record-b-crypto-heist">primarily in cryptocurrency,</a> to fund the regime's nuclear weapons program.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has accused North Korea-affiliated cybercriminals of stealing over $3 billion over the past three years, primarily in cryptocurrency, to fund the regime's nuclear weapons program.

Amazon has taken bold and decisive actions against North Korean schemes to ultimately funnel wages to North Korean weapons programs. Amazon's formidable detection capabilities provide valuable lessons learned to other companies attempting to monitor these unwelcome job applicants.

Amazon has taken bold and decisive actions against North Korean schemes to ultimately funnel wages to North Korean weapons programs. Amazon's formidable detection capabilities provide valuable lessons learned to other companies attempting to monitor these unwelcome job applicants.

Stephen Schmidt

Narrative A

This issue extends far beyond Amazon; the threat posed by North Korean IT workers is a significant security crisis that requires urgent attention from the entire tech sector. Cybercriminals have stolen over $3 billion in just three years, infiltrating hundreds of Fortune 500 companies.  This is a canary in the coal mine.

This issue extends far beyond Amazon; the threat posed by North Korean IT workers is a significant security crisis that requires urgent attention from the entire tech sector. Cybercriminals have stolen over $3 billion in just three years, infiltrating hundreds of Fortune 500 companies. This is a canary in the coal mine.

Narrative B

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