A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, on Wednesday indicted a North Korean national for his alleged involvement in a plot to hack and extort U.S. health care systems, including a Kansas hospital, according to U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas Kate Brubacher’s announcement on Thursday.
One case of conspiracy and one count of conspiring to launder money are brought against Rim Jong Hyok. From 2021 to 2023, he allegedly worked as a hacker and extortionist for the military intelligence organization of the North Korean government.
“The malware encrypted four of the hospital’s computer servers, affecting medical services and patient appointments and putting at risk the health care needs of Kansas citizens,” Brubacher stated on Thursday.
Then, in May 2021, Rim allegedly sought two bitcoin, or around $118,000 at the time, from the unnamed Kansas hospital. To get back access to the servers, the hospital paid the hackers.
“The government has forfeited the funds and is in the process of returning them to the hospital,” Brubacher stated.
The cyber scheme affected about seventeen victims, according to federal officials. A hospital in Florida, a medical clinic in Colorado, health care organizations in Connecticut and Arkansas, and foreign businesses were among the victims.
It is said that North Korea funded cyber espionage, which enabled hacks on several U.S. military locations, federal government agencies, and defense contractors with the money obtained from those victims through blackmail.
Read Also: For “Indecent Liberties” With a Kid, a High School Teacher in North Carolina Was Jailed
“North Korea continues to carry out these sophisticated intrusions targeting the U.S. as a way to fund their military programs, thereby threatening the U.S. and other countries in the region,” he stated.
Up to $10 million is being offered by the US State Department for information that leads to Rim or his associates.
