A man suspected of working for one of North Korea's military intelligence services is accused of planning hacker attacks on American healthcare, NASA, and American military bases, prosecutors announce.
The man has been brought before a grand jury in Kansas. He is suspected, among other things, of money laundering and of using the money to finance cyber attacks around the world.
The hacker attack on a hospital in Kansas in 2021 caused disruptions in healthcare, according to authorities. The hospital also paid around 100,000 dollars in bitcoin to regain access to its data files.
While North Korea uses this type of cybercrime to circumvent international sanctions and achieve its political and military ambitions, these reckless actions have direct consequences for the citizens of Kansas, says FBI agent Stephen Cyrus.
A healthcare facility in Colorado was also targeted.
According to the US Department of Justice, the driving force behind North Korea's hacker attacks is often money, unlike attacks that can be traced back to China and Russia.
The USA, the UK, and South Korea are simultaneously warning that the North Korea-backed hacker group Andariel has launched a global cyber espionage operation. The aim is to steal secret information about defense and nuclear technology.
Companies in the defense, aviation, nuclear, and other technology industries are urged to be on their guard to protect their networks.
