In recent years, North Koreans have secured remote jobs at numerous Western companies by pretending to be from other countries, using fake resumes, and sometimes with assistance from American collaborators. This has been a longstanding issue, as North Korea is heavily sanctioned by the U.S. and European governments due to its prohibited nuclear weapons program, which prohibits hiring North Koreans.
A method emerged to potentially identify North Korean impostors during interviews: ask them to insult Kim Jong Un, as such insults are illegal in North Korea and carry severe punishments. Despite being a well-known tactic, examples of its success are uncommon.
A viral video on X depicts a job interview where the interviewer asks the applicant to say, “Kim Jong Un is a fat ugly pig.” The North Korean applicant appears flustered, feigns confusion, and exits the interview.
While effective in some cases, this approach doesn’t always work. Some North Korean impostors, especially those based in China or Russia, are not under the same strict oversight as those within North Korea, making these tactics less reliable.