COURT DOC: First North Korean National Brought to the United States to Stand Trial for Money Laundering Offenses

After nearly two years of legal proceedings, Mun Chol Myong (Mun), 55, a national of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK), has been extradited to the United States. This case represents the first ever extradition to the United States of a DPRK national. Mun is accused of laundering money through the U.S. financial system as part of a scheme to provide luxury items to the DPRK.

According to the indictment and other court documents unsealed today, between April 2013 and November 2018, Mun and others conspired to covertly and fraudulently access the U.S. financial system. Mun is alleged to have defrauded U.S. banks and violated both U.S. and United Nations (U.N.) sanctions as part of his money laundering activities in transactions valued at over $1.5 million. The indictment further alleges that Mun was affiliated with the DPRKs primary intelligence organization, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, which is the subject of U.S. and U.N. sanctions. (Source: U.S. Department of Justice)