Kansas City, Kan. – Rim Jong Hyok, a man affiliated with a North Korean military intelligence agency, has been indicted in a conspiracy to hack American health care providers, NASA, military bases, and other international entities. He used money launderers to cash out illicit proceeds, buying computer servers to fund more cyber attacks on defense, technology, and government entities worldwide.
The cybercrimes disrupted patient treatment at American hospitals and other health care providers, as well as affecting NASA, military bases in the U.S., defense, and energy companies in China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Hackers accessed NASA’s computer system for over three months, extracting data, and infiltrating defense companies in various states.
FBI agent Stephen A. Cyrus noted that the impact of these cyber crimes extends to citizens in Kansas. Hyok has lived in North Korea and worked in the military intelligence agency’s offices. The Justice Department has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his capture or that of other members of the North Korean military intelligence agency.
The DOJ has pursued multiple criminal cases related to North Korean hacking, with a profit-driven motive. Hyok allegedly used ransomware software to conduct cyberespionage hacks against American and international entities. These hacks serve North Korea’s military and nuclear goals. In past cases, North Korean hackers have targeted American assets and attempted extortion schemes, showcasing a pattern of aggressive cyber activity.
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