Part 3/9:
Personal Encounters and the Discovery
The story of uncovering this large-scale operation begins with casual conversations within the tech industry. An entrepreneur working in web security in San Francisco recounted a peculiar experience interviewing engineers who, despite having Anglo-sounding names and resumes, answered questions with heavy Asian accents and deflected inquiries suspiciously. This pattern prompted suspicion, leading him to probe further.
Collaborating with others in the industry, researchers uncovered that many job applicants sharing these traits were likely part of a coordinated infiltration effort. Although no individual company was directly targeted or unwittingly funding North Korea, the threat was palpable and widespread.