LOS ANGELES – Forget masks and guns. North Korea’s elite cyber warriors are the world’s most brazen 21st-century bank robbers, according to a federal indictment unsealed today. Three alleged hackers – Jon Chang Hyok, 31; Kim Il, 27; and Park Jin Hyok, 36 – are accused of orchestrating a staggering, multi-billion dollar criminal conspiracy that spanned the globe, hitting banks, entertainment companies, and anyone else with a digital wallet.
The indictment alleges these three weren’t rogue operators, but members of units within the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), the DPRK’s military intelligence agency. Known in the cybersecurity world as Lazarus Group and Advanced Persistent Threat 38 (APT38), they allegedly engaged in a relentless campaign of hacking for both revenge and cold, hard cash. This isn’t just petty theft; the scheme aimed to steal and extort over $1.3 billion in money and cryptocurrency.
The scope of their alleged crimes is breathtaking. The indictment details the infamous 2014 Sony Pictures Entertainment hack, a retaliatory strike for the release of “The Interview,” a film depicting the fictional assassination of the North Korean leader. They didn’t stop there. AMC Theatres, targeted for showing the same film, and Mammoth Screen, a production company, also felt their digital wrath. But the entertainment industry was just a starting point.
From 2015 to 2019, the hackers allegedly attempted to steal over $1.2 billion from banks in Vietnam, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Mexico, Malta, and Africa, exploiting the SWIFT messaging system. They also deployed the “FASTCash” scheme, pilfering $6.1 million from BankIslami Pakistan Limited in 2018 via ATM cash-out thefts. And for those who thought they could avoid paying, the hackers unleashed the destructive WannaCry 2.0 ransomware in 2017, demanding extortion payments and stealing sensitive data.
Adding another layer to the conspiracy, a Canadian-American citizen has agreed to plead guilty to money laundering, admitting to being a high-level launderer for these North Korean schemes, including the ATM “cash-out” operations and the cyber-enabled bank heists. Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison called the operation “extensive and long-running,” a clear example of a “criminal nation-state” determined to fund its regime at any cost.
Assistant Attorney General John Demers minced no words, stating that North Korean operatives are, in effect, “the world’s leading 21st century nation-state bank robbers.” Park Jin Hyok was previously charged in a criminal complaint back in September 2018. This indictment isn’t just about bringing these three to justice; it’s a signal that the Justice Department is prepared to confront malicious nation-state cyber activity and hold these actors accountable, even when they operate from the shadows.
Related Federal Cases
- Bruce Choi, COVID-19 Relief Fraud, Los Angeles CA, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Two Foreign Nationals, ID Theft Scheme, Los Angeles CA, 2023 · California
- Letitia James Challenges ICE Raids, Los Angeles CA, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Tyrone Bradshaw, Sex Offender Registration Fraud, Los Angeles CA, 2023 · Texas
- David Gomez Convicted of Mail Fraud, Los Angeles CA, 2023 · Utah
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
