US charges North Korean programmer in Sony hack

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON

The U.S. on Thursday charged and sanctioned a North Korean computer programmer who it alleges was part of a group responsible for a massive 2014 hack into Sony Pictures Entertainment and other cyberattacks.

The Justice and Treasury departments identified the individual as Park Jin Hyok, describing him as a North Korean citizen working for the government there.

Park was designated by the Treasury Department for a wide range of malicious cyber activities on behalf of Pyongang. Chosun Expo Joint Venture, the company Park worked for, was also blacklisted with the U.S. alleging it is under the control over the North Korean government.

Park is accused of being part of a shadowy organization backed by Pyongyang known as the "Lazarus Group," which is blamed for the Sony Pictures hack, which saw thousands of confidential documents released to the public, as well as the Wannacry 2.0 ransomware attack. The group is also accused of orchestrating the 2016 theft of $81 million from Bangladesh's central bank.

Park is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He faces up to 25 years in prison if found guilty.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates the FBI’s unceasing commitment to unmasking and stopping the malicious actors and countries behind the world’s cyberattacks,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

“We stand with our partners to name the North Korean government as the force behind this destructive global cyber campaign. This group’s actions are particularly egregious as they targeted public and private industries worldwide – stealing millions of dollars, threatening to suppress free speech, and crippling hospital systems," he added.