Marketplace Morning Report — "Amazon blocks North Korean IT applicants"

Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Gideon Long (BBC World Service for Marketplace)
Correspondents: Suranjana Tiwari, Rick Kelsey

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a brisk global business news update, focusing first on Amazon’s efforts to block North Korean IT job applicants suspected of funneling wages to their government’s weapons program. The show then touches on recent market moves and the influence of fervent Japanese fan culture ("Oshikatsu") on the country's economy, before closing with a quirky story about a long-lost Air India plane.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Amazon Blocks North Korean IT Workers

[00:59–03:33]

• Main Point: Amazon has blocked over 1,800 suspected North Korean IT applicants in the past two years. These attempts are part of broader North Korean efforts to generate revenue for its weapons programs through remote work.
• Mechanism: Candidates typically use stolen or faked identities to secure remote jobs, relying on so-called “laptop farms”—computers based in the US but operated from abroad.
• Industry-Wide Issue: According to Amazon’s Chief Security Officer Stephen Schmidt, this is not limited to Amazon; the problem likely affects the entire US tech sector.
• Supporting Examples:
  • In June, US authorities discovered 29 illegal “laptop farms” run by North Koreans across the country.
  • Some US brokers were indicted for helping North Korean operatives secure IT jobs.
  • In July, a woman in Arizona was sentenced to over 8 years in prison for running a laptop farm scheme that yielded more than $17 million for North Korea and herself.
• Notable Quote:
  • Suranjana Tiwari: “They were trying to apply for remote working IT jobs using stolen or fake identity and apparently their objective is typically straightforward, to get hired to get paid and funnel wages back to fund the regime's weapons programs.” [01:35]
  • “He’s shone a spotlight on Amazon's issue and said it is prevalent across the tech industry.” [02:40]
• Implication: The tech sector faces ongoing security challenges in vetting remote applicants. Enforcement and vigilance are critical as these attempts are likely occurring “at scale across the industry.”

2. Global Business & Markets Update

[03:34–04:31]

• Novo Nordisk: Shares surged over 7% after the US FDA approved a pill version of its popular weight-loss drug Wegovy.
• Ryanair: Europe’s biggest budget airline fined $300 million in Italy for market abuse.
• Toyota: Recalling more than 55,000 vehicles in the US over concerns about improperly tightened bolts in an electricity inverter.

3. Oshikatsu: The Power of Japanese Fan Culture

[04:31–08:09]

• Focus: “Oshikatsu” describes obsessive fan activities, particularly in Japan, from anime to music idols.
• On the Ground: At the world’s largest anime store, fans (“otaku”) describe the passion and spending associated with oshikatsu—badges, toys, posters, “gifts” to favorite characters.
  • Quote: “Oshikatsu is a way of us otakus to appeal our love to like our favorite characters, our favorite idols, our favorite like singers…” – Anime Fan [05:03]
• Economic Impact:
  • Average fan spends ~$1,600 per year on their “oshi” (favorite).
  • The phenomenon is strongest among teens and 20-somethings, but with rising wages, even older adults are getting involved.
  • Spending on oshikatsu is reshaping retail: "They're kind of like changing the allocation for shikatsu by sacrificing their own spending activities." – Norahiro Yamaguchi, Economist [07:34]
    • Fans shift budgets from clothing and housing to support their obsessions.
  • Long-Term Cultural Shift: Younger generations are less interested in luxury goods, preferring to invest in experiences and fan merchandise.
  • Quote: “I feel like, well, I'm trapped. I'm trapped, but happily trapped. Happily trapped. And so what? I love it.” – Adult Anime Fan [07:05]
• Potential: As oshikatsu becomes less private and more mainstream, it’s propelling Japanese retail out of a slump and breathing new life into consumer markets.

4. Offbeat Story: Air India's Missing Plane

[08:22–end]

• Story: Air India located a Boeing 737 that had been missing for 13 years at Kolkata airport.
• Consequence: The airline now faces a $110,000 parking fine for leaving the plane unclaimed.
• Moment of Levity: A quirky reminder of the kinds of operational oversights even major airlines can make.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “They were trying to apply for remote working IT jobs using stolen or fake identity and apparently their objective is typically straightforward, to get hired to get paid and funnel wages back to fund the regime's weapons programs.”
  — Suranjana Tiwari [01:35]

• “In July, a woman from Arizona was sentenced to more than eight years in jail for running a similar laptop farm... The scheme generated more than $17 million in illicit gains for her and for Pyongyang.”
  — Suranjana Tiwari [03:15]

• “Oshikatsu is a way of us otakus to appeal our love to like our favorite characters…”
  — Anime Fan [05:03]

• "I feel like, well, I'm trapped. I'm trapped, but happily trapped. Happily trapped. And so what? I love it."
  — Adult Anime Fan [07:05]

• “Younger generations are less interested in the luxury brand produce and spending more on oshikatsu.”
  — Norahiro Yamaguchi, Economist [08:02]

Episode Flow Outline & Timestamps

• [00:59] Amazon blocks 1,800+ North Korean IT applicants
• [01:29] How “laptop farms” function in US-based remote jobs
• [02:33] The problem is industry-wide; examples of enforcement
• [03:34] Markets and global business updates: Novo Nordisk, Ryanair, Toyota
• [04:31] Japanese “oshikatsu” culture and its economic impact
• [05:03] Otaku (superfan) culture explained by fans themselves
• [07:34] Economist perspective: Shifting consumer spending toward fandom
• [08:22] Air India finds missing plane, faces large fine

Conclusion

This episode spotlights the intersection of security threats, economic trends, and cultural shifts across the globe. From Amazon’s efforts to safeguard against foreign exploitation, to the powerful effects of Japanese fan spending, the program offers a brisk, insightful morning snapshot for listeners eager to understand today's business landscape.

For a quick, informed start to your day — this episode delivers the news behind the numbers and the culture shaping tomorrow’s markets.