The United States has launched a coordinated effort with the Departments of State, Justice, and the Treasury to disrupt North Korea’s malicious revenue generation schemes, offering rewards of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of key individuals involved.
Targeting Transnational Crime
The Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) is offering a total reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the arrests and/or convictions of North Korean nationals Sim Hyon-sop and six co-conspirators. These individuals are accused of engaging in various illicit activities, including cryptocurrency theft, illicit IT work, trafficking in counterfeit goods, oil smuggling, and other transnational criminal activities.
Revenue Generation Schemes
North Korea’s revenue generation schemes often target U.S. companies and citizens to raise funds for the country’s dangerous and unlawful weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs. These activities pose a significant threat to the U.S. homeland and stand in contravention of UN and U.S. sanctions.
Individuals Involved
Sim Hyon-sop, along with six co-conspirators, has been charged for their role in illicit activities related to buying and selling tobacco from North Korea to gain access to U.S. dollars. The Department of State’s reward offers include an increase of up to $7 million for Sim Hyon-sop, up to $3 million each for Myong Chol-Min and Kim Se-Un, and up to $500,000 each for Kim Yong-Bok, Kim Chol-Min, a/k/a “Jack,” Ri Tong-Min, a/k/a “Elvis,” and Ri Won-Ho.
IT Worker Schemes
North Korea dispatches thousands of IT workers abroad to orchestrate fraudulent IT work, often from Russia and China. The Department of the Treasury is designating Korea Sobaeksu Trading Company, which has previously deployed IT workers to Vietnam, and three North Korean nationals, including Kim Se Un, Myong Chol Min, and Jo Kyong Hun, who have been involved in illicit revenue generation schemes.
Consequences for Americans
North Korean IT workers specifically target remote jobs with U.S. companies due to the high salaries, which they remit back to North Korea to fund the unlawful production of WMD and ballistic missiles. American citizen Christina Marie Chapman will be sentenced today in the District of Columbia for her role in a North Korean IT worker scheme that defrauded more than 300 U.S. companies.
Ambassadorial Message
The United States will not stand idly by while North Korea profits from criminal activity to fund its destabilizing actions. The State Department’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) national security program has a standing reward offer of up to $5 million for information that leads to the disruption of financial mechanisms of persons engaged in certain activities that support the North Korean government and its sanctions evasion.
Contact Information
If you have information regarding these illicit activities, please contact the FBI via phone/text/WhatsApp at +1-480-695-1388. You can also visit the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if you are located outside of the United States. In the United States, you can contact your local FBI field office.
Conclusion
The U.S. government’s coordinated effort to disrupt North Korea’s revenue generation schemes demonstrates its commitment to mitigating threats posed by North Korea to protect U.S. companies, the U.S. financial system, and American citizens.