Federal authorities have charged three North Korean agents for a global cyber campaign to steal or extort $1.3 billion from financial institutions and other businesses, USA Today reports about an indictment unsealed Wednesday.
According to the indictment, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, a North Korean military intelligence unit previously known to be responsible for hacking Sony Pictures and AMC Theaters in retaliation for releasing the movie “The Interview” which parodied North Korean leadership, undertook an international campaign to steal cash and crypto-currencies in various attacks.
Assistant Attorney General John Demers, chief of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, described the operation as “a criminal syndicate with a flag,” hiding under a national security banner to undertake criminal activities.
According to the unsealed indictment, a Canadian-American dual citizen, arrested for helping the operation launder millions of dollars, is expected to plead guilty to charges related to the spree.