A North Korean hacker affiliated with the country’s military intelligence agency has been indicted for allegedly hacking American hospitals, NASA, and military bases. The Kansas grand jury indictment of Rim Jong Hyok accuses him of laundering money through a Chinese bank to fund cyberattacks on defense, technology, and government entities globally.
Disruptions to healthcare
Officials reported that Hyok’s hacks on U.S. hospitals disrupted patient treatment. He is accused of targeting 17 entities across 11 U.S. states, including NASA and military bases, as well as defense and energy companies in China, Taiwan, and South Korea.
“North Korea uses these cybercrimes to circumvent international sanctions and fund its political and military ambitions,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus. “Today’s charges prove these cyber actors cannot act with impunity and that malicious actions against the citizens of Kansas and the rest of the United States have severe consequences.”
Extensive cyber intrusion
The indictment reveals that Hyok and his colleagues from the Andariel Unit of North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau accessed NASA’s computer system for over three months, extracting 17 gigabytes of unclassified data.
“Today’s indictment underscores our commitment to protecting critical infrastructure from malicious actors and the countries that sponsor them,” stated U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas. “Rim Jong Hyok and those in his trade jeopardize lives by imperiling timely, effective treatment for patients and costing hospitals billions of dollars annually.”
Reward for information
The Department of State has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Hyok’s location or identification. The Justice Department has prosecuted several cases related to North Korean hacking.
In 2021, three North Korean computer programmers were charged with a wide range of hacks, including an attack on an American movie studio and the attempted theft of over $1.3 billion from banks and companies worldwide.