Indictment of North Korean Military Intelligence Agent for Cybercrimes
In a significant development, a man associated with North Korea’s military intelligence agency has been indicted for his alleged involvement in a cybercrime plot targeting U.S. health care providers. The individual, Lim Jong-hyuk, faces charges of laundering money to fund cyberattacks against defense, technology, and government entities globally, resulting in disruptions to patient care in U.S. hospitals.
Impact on Kansas Hospitals and Health Care Facilities
The indictment reveals that North Korea’s use of cybercrime aims to bypass international sanctions and advance its political and military goals. These actions have a direct impact on Kansas citizens, as evidenced by a cyberattack on a Kansas hospital in May 2021. During the attack, hackers encrypted the hospital’s files and servers, leading to a ransom payment of approximately $100,000 in Bitcoin to regain access to the encrypted data.
Prosecution of North Korean Hacking Cases
The Justice Department has actively pursued criminal cases related to North Korean hacking, highlighting profit-driven motives different from Russian and Chinese cyber activities. A notable example includes the prosecution of three North Korean programmers in 2021 for diverse hacking incidents, including attacks on a U.S. film studio and attempts to extort billions from banks and companies.
