{"id":18192,"date":"2021-02-17T19:51:11","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T00:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/?p=18192"},"modified":"2021-02-17T19:51:11","modified_gmt":"2021-02-18T00:51:11","slug":"us-charges-three-north-koreans-over-1-3bn-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2021\/02\/17\/us-charges-three-north-koreans-over-1-3bn-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"US charges three North Koreans over $1.3bn theft"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p><b class=\"ssrcss-14iz86j-BoldText e5tfeyi0\">Three North Koreans have been charged in the US over a scheme to steal and extort more than $1.3bn (\u00a3940m) from banks and businesses around the world.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The three, who are not in custody, are also accused of deploying malicious cryptocurrency programs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>A Canadian-American citizen was also charged with money laundering.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The men are also accused of being part of the Wannacry cyber-attack of 2017, which crippled UK health service computer systems on a national scale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Announcing the charges, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John Demers, said North Korea &#8220;has become a criminal syndicate with a flag&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>One of the defendants, Park Jin Hyok, was previously charged two years ago for his role in\u00a0<a class=\"ssrcss-hiczm3-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/technology-30189029\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the 2014 hacking of Sony Entertainment Pictures<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Mr Park, Jon Chang Hyok and Kim Il are accused of criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"unordered-list-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1pzprxn-BulletListContainer e5tfeyi3\">\n<ul role=\"list\">\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-hiczm3-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/technology-56084575\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North Korea accused of hacking Pfizer for Covid-19 vaccine data<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-hiczm3-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/technology-55554715\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">US intelligence task force accuses Russia of cyber-hack<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"ssrcss-hiczm3-InlineLink e1no5rhv0\" href=\"http:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2021\/02\/17\/central-park-amy-cooper-has-criminal-case-against-her-dismissed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NHS cyber-attack was &#8216;launched from North Korea&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The Department of Justice says the defendants work for the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea&#8217;s military intelligence agency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;North Korea&#8217;s operatives, using keyboards rather than guns, stealing digital wallets of cryptocurrency instead of sacks of cash, are the world&#8217;s leading bank robbers,&#8221; Mr Demers said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>All three men are believed to be in North Korea, which does not extradite its citizens to face US charges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The Canadian-American man, 37-year-old Ghaleb Alaumary, from Mississauga, Ontario, is accused of being the group&#8217;s money launderer in a separate case announced on Wednesday. Officials say he has agreed to plead guilty to the charge<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-mysbf6-ComponentWrapper-CrossheadComponentWrapper e1xue1i84\" data-component=\"crosshead-block\">\n<h2 class=\"ssrcss-qozapo-StyledHeading e1fj1fc10\">Satirical source<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Sony Entertainment Picture&#8217;s 2014 film, The Interview, is widely believed to have been the initial motive for the attack on the film company.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The satirical film, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, ridicules North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and centres around a fictitious assassination plot against him.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The men are also believed to have had a hand in the WannaCry 2.0 ransomware attack in 2017.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The attack temporarily crippled UK National Health Service (NHS) computer systems and affected more than 150 countries around the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>About 40 NHS organisations and some medical practices were hit, with operations and appointments cancelled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>The three men hit by the indictment also conducted campaigns targeting US defence and energy contractors. As part of this, Department of State and Pentagon officials were tricked into sharing their credentials so hackers could access their computers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>&#8220;The scope of the criminal conduct by the North Korean hackers was extensive and long-running and the range of crimes they have committed is staggering,&#8221; Acting US Attorney Tracy Wilkison said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-18mjolk-ComponentWrapper e1xue1i80\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-2y05cd-StyledFigure e34k3c20\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-kwaqyc-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c22\"><span class=\"ssrcss-13t93ir-Placeholder e16icw910\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/C10D\/production\/_114812494_analysis-joe-tidy-nc.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/C10D\/production\/_114812494_analysis-joe-tidy-nc.png 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/C10D\/production\/_114812494_analysis-joe-tidy-nc.png 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/C10D\/production\/_114812494_analysis-joe-tidy-nc.png 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/C10D\/production\/_114812494_analysis-joe-tidy-nc.png 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/C10D\/production\/_114812494_analysis-joe-tidy-nc.png 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/C10D\/production\/_114812494_analysis-joe-tidy-nc.png 976w\" alt=\"Analysis box by Joe Tidy, Cyber reporter\" width=\"1536\" height=\"306.11957796014065\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>There are broadly three reasons why governments choose cyber-attacks to further their interests: to spy on each-other; to steal intellectual property; or to meddle in politics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>This indictment adds further evidence to the theory that North Korea bucks the trend. The politically isolated country is actually far more interested in making money.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>As the assistant attorney general put it, North Korean hackers are &#8220;the world&#8217;s leading bank robbers&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>Of all the major cyber powers, North Korea has time and time again used its considerable skills to prop up a struggling economy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>It&#8217;s working rather well, too &#8211; with well over $1bn in the bank from these hacks alone.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper e1xue1i83\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-3z08n3-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi2\">\n<p>While other nations cause chaos and political noise with their hackers, North Korea seems content to quietly continue lining its coffers.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/technology-56103921\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\">Three North Koreans have been charged in the US over a scheme to steal and extort more than $1.3bn (\u00a3940m) from banks and businesses around the world. The three, who are not in custody, are <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/2021\/02\/17\/us-charges-three-north-koreans-over-1-3bn-theft\/\" title=\"US charges three North Koreans over $1.3bn theft\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[109,2,3],"tags":[4686,2936,1786,6270],"class_list":{"0":"post-18192","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headline","8":"category-news","9":"category-usa","10":"tag-cryptocurrency","11":"tag-hacking","12":"tag-north-korea","13":"tag-ransomware","14":"pmpro-has-access"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18192"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18192\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18194,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18192\/revisions\/18194"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldjusticenews.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}