Eight North Korean agents have also been sanctioned by the agency for aiding in the evasion of sanctions and promoting their nation’s WMD development.
The current measures are apparently a direct response to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) purported launch of a military reconnaissance satellite on November 21 in an attempt to hinder the DPRK’s ability to produce revenue, obtain resources, and obtain intelligence to further its WMD program.
“Active since 2012, Kimsuky is subordinate to the UN- and U.S. designated Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), the DPRK’s primary foreign intelligence service,” the Department of Treasury stated. “Malicious cyber activity associated with the Kimsuky advanced persistent threat is also known in the cybersecurity industry as APT43, Emerald Sleet, Velvet Chollima, TA406, and Black Banshee.”
The OFAC, in August 2010, linked Kimsuky to North Korea’s primary foreign intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau.
Kimsuky’s operations mostly consist of stealing intelligence, focusing on foreign policies and national security concerns regarding the Korean peninsula and nuclear policy.