One key component for this scheme to work is to have local US persons act as intermediaries. While some may already know something shady is going on, and be complicit, some might not understand the entire scope of what they're being part of. Publicly discussing it might encourage some people to come forward / avoid being involved in the future.
Imagine a non technical person being told they're helping run an "edge data center, close to the users. Running our laptops helps Netflix/facebook/etc (insert big tech name of your choice) run faster for you and your neighbors and well pay you to do it."
Easy to imagine a non technical person buying that lie.
Can you please explain it better?
I'm sure many, many countries have botnets. I have a bunch of those countries which I consider irresponsible and wreckless in my radar, not only north korea.
They've already arrested some people involved in this, they have devices as evidence. It's pretty well documented at this point.
Reality is much simpler though. Greed, I already said it. Typical human defects.
It seems that you are not comprehending who needs to come forward. Entire industries, entire parties. They simply won't, they would rather see the world burn than admit such mistakes. It has happened before.