North Korean charged in ransomware attacks on American hospitals

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A man who allegedly carried out cybercrimes for a North Korean military intelligence agency has been indicted in a conspiracy to hack American health care providers, NASA, military bases and other international entities, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

Rim Jong Hyok was indicted by a grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas. He’s accused of using money launderers to cash out the illicit proceeds, which he then allegedly used to buy computer servers and fund more cyber attacks on defense, technology and government entities around the world.

The hack on American hospitals on other health care providers disrupted the treatment of patients, officials said. He’s accused of attacks on a total of 17 entities in 11 U.S. states including NASA and military bases as well as defense and energy companies in China, Taiwan and South Korea.

The hackers gained access for more than three months to NASA’s computer system, extracting over 17 gigabytes of unclassified data, the indictment says. They were also able to gain access to computer systems for defense companies in places like Michigan and California along with Randolph Air Force base in Texas and Robins Air Force base in Georgia, authorities say.

“While North Korea uses these types of cyber crimes to circumvent international sanctions and fund its political and military ambitions, the impact of these wanton acts have a direct impact on the citizens of Kansas,” said Stephen A. Cyrus, an FBI agent based in Kansas City.

Online court records do not list an attorney for Hyok, who has lived in North Korea and worked at the military intelligence agency’s offices in both Pyongyang and Sinuiju, according to court records. A reward of up to $10 million has been