The sending of threats to cause damage to, obtain information from, or requesting something in value in relation to a computer, with the intent to extort from a person or entity money or anything of value as prohibited by 18 U.S.C. §§ 1030(a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(5), and (a)(7).
01
Up to $5 Million Reward
In order to support international efforts to disrupt North Korea’s illicit activities, the State Department’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program offers rewards of up to $5 million for information that leads to the disruption of financial mechanisms of persons engaged in certain activities that support North Korea, including money laundering, exportation of luxury goods to North Korea, specified cyber-activity and actions that support WMD proliferation.
The Department is seeking information about, among other things:
Weapons Sales and Shipments:
RFJ is seeking information on the export from North Korea of military-related weapons and other items to any entity or individual, including the shipment of such items from North Korea.
Cyber Operations:
RFJ is seeking information on those who seek to undermine cybersecurity, including financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges around the world, for the benefit of the Government of North Korea.
Ship-to-Ship Transfers:
RFJ is seeking information on ship-to-ship transfers of coal originating in North Korea or crude oil or petroleum products being shipped to North Korea.
North Korean Laborers:
RFJ is seeking information on North Korean nationals who are sent outside of North Korea to work to generate money for the North Korean government, including information on companies and individuals who employ them or otherwise facilitate their activities outside of North Korea.
Money Laundering:
RFJ is seeking information on money laundering to support the Government of North Korea. This could include information about the movement of currency, including virtual currency, involving any North Korea-linked national or entity, including any bank accounts located overseas utilized by North Korea or for the benefit of North Korea, as well as any front companies or cover companies operating on behalf of North Korea and with access to the international financial system.
Drugs and Counterfeiting:
RFJ is seeking information on narcotics trafficking, counterfeiting of goods or currency, and bulk cash smuggling that supports the North Korean government.
Luxury Goods:
RFJ is seeking information on any shipment or transfer of luxury items to the DPRK, which could include luxury automobiles, designer clothing, jewelry, alcohol, tobacco, perfume, or other similar items likely destined for regime elites.
Human Rights Abuses:
RFJ is seeking information on serious human rights abuses by the Government of North Korea.
02
Information
The Department is specifically authorized to offer rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to the disruption of financial mechanisms of any person or entity who has engaged in conduct described in sections 104(a) and 104(b)(1) of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 (NKSPEA). Section 104(a) of NKSPEA covers conduct by an individual or entity who:
01
Knowingly, directly or indirectly, imports, exports, or reexports to, into, or from North Korea any goods, services, or technology controlled for export by the United States because of the use of such goods, services, or technology for weapons of mass destruction or delivery systems for such weapons and materially contributes to the use, development, production, possession, or acquisition by any person of a nuclear, radiological, chemical, or biological weapon or any device or system designed in whole or in part to deliver such a weapon;
02
Knowingly, directly or indirectly, provides training, advice, or other services or assistance, or engages in significant financial transactions, relating to the manufacture, maintenance, or use of any such weapon, device, or system to be imported, exported, or reexported to, into, or from North Korea;
03
Knowingly, directly or indirectly, imports, exports, or reexports luxury goods to or into North Korea;
04
Knowingly engages in, is responsible for, or facilitates censorship by the Government of North Korea;
05
Knowingly engages in, is responsible for, or facilitates serious human rights abuses by the Government of North Korea;
06
Knowingly, directly or indirectly, engages in money laundering, the counterfeiting of goods or currency, bulk cash smuggling, or narcotics trafficking that supports the Government of North Korea or any senior official or person acting for or on behalf of that Government;
07
Knowingly engages in significant activities undermining cybersecurity through the use of computer networks or systems against foreign persons, governments, or other entities on behalf of the Government of North Korea;
08
Knowingly, directly or indirectly, sells, supplies, or transfers to or from the Government of North Korea or any person acting for or on behalf of that Government, a significant amount of precious metal, graphite, raw or semi-finished metals or aluminum, steel, coal, or software, for use by or in industrial processes directly related to weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems for such weapons, other proliferation activities, the Korean Workers’ Party, armed forces, internal security, or intelligence activities, or the operation and maintenance of political prison camps or forced labor camps, including outside of North Korea;
09
Knowingly, directly or indirectly, imports, exports, or reexports to, into, or from North Korea any arms or related materiel or any defense article or defense service (as such terms are defined in 22 U.S.C. § 2794);
10
Knowingly, directly or indirectly, purchases or otherwise acquires from North Korea any significant amounts of gold, titanium ore, vanadium ore, copper, silver, nickel, zinc, or rare earth minerals;
11
Knowingly, directly or indirectly, sells or transfers to North Korea any significant amounts of rocket, aviation, or jet fuel (except for use by a civilian passenger aircraft outside North Korea, exclusively for consumption during its flight to North Korea or its return flight);
12
Knowingly, directly or indirectly, provides significant amounts of fuel or supplies, provides bunkering services, or facilitates a significant transaction or transactions to operate or maintain, a vessel or aircraft that is designated under an applicable Executive order or an applicable United Nations Security Council resolution, or that is owned or controlled by a person designated under an applicable Executive order or applicable United Nations Security Council resolution;
13
Knowingly, directly or indirectly, insures, registers, facilitates the registration of, or maintains insurance or a registration for, a vessel owned or controlled by the Government of North Korea, except as specifically approved by the United Nations Security Council;
14
Knowingly, directly or indirectly, maintains a correspondent account (as defined in 22 U.S.C. § 9221a(d)(1) ) with any North Korean financial institution, except as specifically approved by the United Nations Security Council; or
15
Knowingly attempts to engage in any of the conduct described in paragraphs (1) through (14).
03
Department
The Department is also authorized to offer rewards of up to $5 million for information leading to the identification of any individual who, at the direction of or under control of the North Korean government, aids or abets a violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”), 18 U.S.C. § 1030). The Department is seeking information on any such activities that violate the CFAA, with a particular, but not exclusive, interest in those activities involving:
01
The unauthorized intrusions into public and private sector computers and networks with the intent to steal information;
02
The sending of destructive malware;
03
The dissemination and use of ransomware;
04
04
Posters
In order to support international efforts to disrupt North Korea’s illicit activities, the State Department’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program offers rewards of up to $5 million for information that leads to the disruption of financial mechanisms of persons engaged in certain activities that support North Korea, including money laundering, exportation of luxury goods to North Korea, specified cyber-activity and actions that support WMD proliferation.
Click on a poster for an enlarged view or print a copy to post.
