Rim Jong Hyok

Rim Jong Hyok, a North Korean national, has been identified as a significant threat actor involved in a series of malicious cyber activities. He is accused of orchestrating a conspiracy to hack and extort U.S. hospitals and other healthcare providers, with the consequences of these ransomware attacks severely impacting the provision of care to patients. The indictment returned by a grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, further alleges that the laundered ransom proceeds were used to fund additional computer intrusions into defense, technology, and government entities worldwide, amplifying the scale and severity of the threat posed by Rim Jong Hyok. In response to this ongoing threat, the U.S. government has taken proactive measures to apprehend Rim Jong Hyok. A $10 million reward has been offered under the State Department's Rewards for Justice program for information leading to his arrest. This substantial bounty underscores the seriousness with which the government views Rim Jong Hyok's cybercriminal activities and its commitment to bring him to justice. The Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program is also offering a reward of up to $10 million for information that could lead to any co-conspirators within Andariel's management structure. Andariel is believed to be the group in which Rim Jong Hyok plays a key role. These rewards reflect the U.S. government's broader strategy to dismantle the entire network of cybercriminals associated with Rim Jong Hyok, thereby mitigating the risk they pose to critical infrastructure sectors.