The U.S. Treasury Department announced on May 23, 2023 that it had sanctioned four entities and one individual involved in obfuscated revenue-generating and malicious cyber activities in support of the North Korean government.
The Pyongyang Automation University, the Technology Reconnaissance Bureau, and its cyber unit, the 110 Research Center, have been sanctioned for their ties to North Korea’s main intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), according to US officials. person announced. It is behind much of the country’s cyber espionage and cyber theft activity.
The U.S. Treasury Department said, “The North Korea-based Office of Technology Reconnaissance leads the development of North Korea’s offensive cyber tactics and tools and operates several divisions, including an affiliate of the Lazarus Group. ‘ said.
The sanctions against a fourth organization, Chinlong Information Technology Cooperation Company (also known as Jinlong IT Cooperation Company), state that the organization “illegally obtains employment, [notably] In Russia and Laos, it will generate revenue, including cryptocurrencies, to support the Kim regime and its priorities, including illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. “
Kim Sang-man, a North Korean national in Vladivostok, Russia, one of the representatives of the Chinyoung office, said: More than $2 million in transfers from IT teams located in China and Russia, who recently received cryptocurrency funding. “
These workers usually hide their identity, location and nationality and use falsified documents to apply for jobs. They have secretly worked in several industries, including in the areas of “business, health and fitness, social networking, sports, entertainment and lifestyle.”
Kim Sang-man was jointly sanctioned by the United States and South Korea.
