US indicts North Korean for WannaCry and IT attack on Sony – update

The American Justice Department is reportedly going to charge a spy from North Korea in connection with the attack on the Sony Pictures computer network in 2014. The man is said to work for North Korean military intelligence.

The United States would have had its sights on the person for some time, but it would have been difficult to sue because it would reveal incriminating information that had been labeled secret. That writes the New York Times based on conversations with three government officials. According to The Washington Post, the spy is associated with the Lazarus Group, which is also believed to be behind attacks on the Swift banking system and the WannaCry malware.

The FBI quickly pointed the finger at North Korea in 2014, partly because the attack on Sony Pictures used malware and infrastructure that was also used in a large-scale operation against systems in South Korea and the proxy did not work.

The attack rendered many of Sony Pictures’ computers useless and looted emails and files that later surfaced on the Internet. The operation appeared to be aimed at the release of Sony Pictures’ film The Interview, which featured an attempt to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Sony canceled the premiere and further screening in cinemas.

Update, 18.50: The Public Prosecution Service has confirmed the news. The spy is said to be working through a China-based company, Korean Expo Joint Venture, which makes money for North Korea’s intelligence service. The man is charged with extortion, fraud and various forms of ICT crime and his attacks are expected to continue this year. The indictment also cites an attack on Lockheed Martin, according to Motherboard.

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