Behind-the-Scenes: North Korean animators secretly work on Amazon and HBO Max shows

In December, cybersecurity researcher Nick Roy discovered a misconfigured cloud server on a North Korean IP address containing thousands of animation files, including cells, videos, and project notes, indicating North Korean involvement in major international TV shows. The findings, detailed in a report by the Stimson Center's 38 North Project and Google-owned security firm Mandiant, suggest a means for North Korea to evade sanctions through skilled IT and tech workers. As reported by Wired, North Korea's tightly controlled internet landscape, with limited access and stringent monitoring, contrasts starkly with the discovery of a regularly updated exposed cloud server, which likely facilitated collaboration between North Korean animators, as suggested by Martyn Williams, a senior fellow on the 38 North Project. Despite this, researchers suggest that companies involved in the TV shows are likely unaware of North Korean animators' involvement. We do not work with North Korean companies, or Chinese companies on Invincible, or any affiliated entities, and have no knowledge of any North Korean or Chinese companies working on Invincible. Although no identifiable North Korean organization names were found in the files, it's notable that April 26 Animation Studio, also known as SEK Studio, has a longstanding presence in North Korea. Michael Barnhart, a researcher at Mandiant, highlighted the financial motive behind such activities, suggesting they serve to bolster North Korea's coffers.