The US Treasury Department announced on May 23, 2023, that Washington has imposed sanctions on four entities and one individual for their involvement in revenue generation and malicious cyber activities that support the North Korean government.
Among the entities sanctioned are the Pyongyang University of Automation, the Technical Reconnaissance Bureau, and its cyber unit, the 110th Research Center. These entities have been linked to North Korea’s primary intelligence service, the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), which is believed to be responsible for various cyber espionage and theft activities.
According to the US Treasury Department, the Technical Reconnaissance Bureau, based in North Korea, is at the forefront of developing offensive cyber tactics and tools. It operates multiple departments, including those associated with the notorious Lazarus Group, known for its involvement in cyber attacks.
Additionally, the Chinyong Information Technology Cooperation Company, also known as Jinyong IT Cooperation Company, has also been sanctioned. This organization employs IT workers who fraudulently obtain employment, particularly in Russia and Laos, to generate revenue, including in virtual currency. The funds generated are used to support the Kim regime’s unlawful weapons programs.
One individual, Kim Sang Man, a representative of the Chinyong office in Vladivostok, Russia, has been implicated in the sale and transfer of IT equipment for the North Korean regime. He received cryptocurrency transfers valued at over $2 million from IT teams in China and Russia in 2021. These workers conceal their identities, locations, and nationalities and use forged documentation to secure employment in various industries.
The sanctions imposed on Kim Sang Man were a joint effort between the United States and South Korea. The individuals and entities targeted by these sanctions play a crucial role in supporting the North Korean government’s malicious cyber activities and revenue generation efforts.
This latest development underscores the ongoing efforts of the international community to address the threat posed by North Korea’s cyber capabilities and its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. The sanctions aim to disrupt the illicit activities of these entities and individuals and hold them accountable for their actions.