I Interviewed a North Korean Hacker Posing as a Crypto Dev

North Korean state-sponsored hackers have infiltrated the cryptocurrency industry, stealing over $6 billion to fund the regime's nuclear ambitions. To expose this threat, an undercover investigation involved interviewing a suspected North Korean IT worker under the guise of a recruitment process for UMP Labs. While the candidate demonstrated significant technical proficiency in blockchain engineering, the interview served as a critical security test: requesting a negative comment about Kim Jong Un. This simple prompt acts as a definitive litmus test, as North Korean operatives are conditioned to fear severe, lifelong repercussions for any dissent. The candidate’s immediate avoidance of the question and subsequent termination of communication confirm the effectiveness of this screening method. Implementing such checks is essential for crypto projects to prevent the inadvertent funding of the DPRK dictatorship and protect the integrity of the industry.