#Newspaper
U.S. court orders disclosure of $23M in North Korea assets to Warmbiers
The U.S. District Court ordered the disclosure of information on $23 million in frozen North Korean assets at JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of New York Mellon to the parents of Otto Warmbier.
Otto Warmbier was arrested in 2016 in North Korea after he was accused of stealing a propaganda banner in his hotel. He returned to the U.S. in 2017 but died due to brain damage.
Fred and Cindy Warmbier have been tracking North Korean assets held in the United States since 2019. They are in a potential position to collect the money but it is unclear whether the funds can be taken as compensation for North Korean state actions that led to the death of their son as a third party is involved.
Full Article: UPI
https://bit.ly/2TSnA4E
Further reading:
North Korea issued $2 million bill for comatose Otto Warmbier’s care
https://wapo.st/2ZSFPKU
#NorthKorea #OttoWarmbier
U.S. court orders disclosure of $23M in North Korea assets to Warmbiers
The U.S. District Court ordered the disclosure of information on $23 million in frozen North Korean assets at JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of New York Mellon to the parents of Otto Warmbier.
Otto Warmbier was arrested in 2016 in North Korea after he was accused of stealing a propaganda banner in his hotel. He returned to the U.S. in 2017 but died due to brain damage.
Fred and Cindy Warmbier have been tracking North Korean assets held in the United States since 2019. They are in a potential position to collect the money but it is unclear whether the funds can be taken as compensation for North Korean state actions that led to the death of their son as a third party is involved.
Full Article: UPI
https://bit.ly/2TSnA4E
Further reading:
North Korea issued $2 million bill for comatose Otto Warmbier’s care
https://wapo.st/2ZSFPKU
#NorthKorea #OttoWarmbier
UPI
U.S. court orders disclosure of $23M in North Korea assets to Warmbiers
May 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the disclosure of information on $23 million in frozen North Korean assets at three U.S. banks to the parents of Otto Warmbier, the University of Virginia student who died after…
#Newspaper
40,300 cyber attacks in the last 4-5 days from China, more coming: Maharashtra cyber department
//Maharashtra cyber department on Tuesday issued a warning about Chinese cyber attackers planning a large scale phishing attack and stated that over 40,000 suspected attacks on sites related to information, infrastructure and banking were witnessed in the last 4-5 days.
//China had opened another front against India with sustained DDOS (distributed denial of service) attacks on Indian information websites and the country’s financial payments system.
//most of these attacks were traced back to the central Chinese city of Chengdu—a city known as the hub of hackers and also the headquarters of the Chinese Army’s Unit 61398, which is PLA’s covert cyberwarfare section.
//These attacks were... unsuccessful.
//several hackers in Chengdu work under the patronage of government agencies to camouflage their operation for official deniability.
//Indian agencies had warned that Chinese cyber attackers could also carry out a massive phishing attack in the guise of a free Covid-19 test.
//Australia, too, recently suspected a Chinese hand in a massive cyber attack on several of its strategic sites targeting administration, industries, essential services, critical infrastructure and political organizations among others.
//The recent warning is the latest in a series of such alerts issued including the one released last Friday which cited the threat of a cyber attack by North Korea-based cyber criminals.
Full article: Hindustantimes, (27, Jun)
#CyberAttack #India #China #Australia #NorthKorea #DDOS #Chengdu #PLA
40,300 cyber attacks in the last 4-5 days from China, more coming: Maharashtra cyber department
//Maharashtra cyber department on Tuesday issued a warning about Chinese cyber attackers planning a large scale phishing attack and stated that over 40,000 suspected attacks on sites related to information, infrastructure and banking were witnessed in the last 4-5 days.
//China had opened another front against India with sustained DDOS (distributed denial of service) attacks on Indian information websites and the country’s financial payments system.
//most of these attacks were traced back to the central Chinese city of Chengdu—a city known as the hub of hackers and also the headquarters of the Chinese Army’s Unit 61398, which is PLA’s covert cyberwarfare section.
//These attacks were... unsuccessful.
//several hackers in Chengdu work under the patronage of government agencies to camouflage their operation for official deniability.
//Indian agencies had warned that Chinese cyber attackers could also carry out a massive phishing attack in the guise of a free Covid-19 test.
//Australia, too, recently suspected a Chinese hand in a massive cyber attack on several of its strategic sites targeting administration, industries, essential services, critical infrastructure and political organizations among others.
//The recent warning is the latest in a series of such alerts issued including the one released last Friday which cited the threat of a cyber attack by North Korea-based cyber criminals.
Full article: Hindustantimes, (27, Jun)
#CyberAttack #India #China #Australia #NorthKorea #DDOS #Chengdu #PLA
Hindustan Times
Punjab gets first woman chief secy, bureaucracy its first power couple
CHANDIGARH
Tokyo Police to Undergo Reorganization, Stepping Up Measures Against China and North Korea
Japanese broadcaster NHK has reported that the external affairs division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) will undergo reorganization. A new unit will be set up in addition to the three it originally has, while the existing units will be better equipped. According to the report, this is a response to the increase of Chinese and North Korean intelligence activities.
Sources revealed the three existing units specialize in Russian affairs, Asian affairs, and monitoring international extremist groups, respectively. Under the new arrangement, a new unit will split off from the second unit with the former focusing on North Korean affairs and the latter better equipped to respond to threats from China.
The report noted that Chinese espionage, disguised sometimes as commercial activities, has become more active in such fields as frontier technology. Given also that China is in a fierce technological competition with the US, Japan is faced with the need to strengthen its precautionary measures. As for North Korea, Japan considers Pyongyang’s continued development of its nuclear arsenal and ballistic missiles a significant threat. The Tokyo government concluded that North Korean intelligence activities will intensify in Japan.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct10
#Japan #China #NorthKorea #TokyoMetropolitanPoliceDepartment #TMPD #Police #Intelligence #Espionage
https://bit.ly/34uwBGA
Japanese broadcaster NHK has reported that the external affairs division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) will undergo reorganization. A new unit will be set up in addition to the three it originally has, while the existing units will be better equipped. According to the report, this is a response to the increase of Chinese and North Korean intelligence activities.
Sources revealed the three existing units specialize in Russian affairs, Asian affairs, and monitoring international extremist groups, respectively. Under the new arrangement, a new unit will split off from the second unit with the former focusing on North Korean affairs and the latter better equipped to respond to threats from China.
The report noted that Chinese espionage, disguised sometimes as commercial activities, has become more active in such fields as frontier technology. Given also that China is in a fierce technological competition with the US, Japan is faced with the need to strengthen its precautionary measures. As for North Korea, Japan considers Pyongyang’s continued development of its nuclear arsenal and ballistic missiles a significant threat. The Tokyo government concluded that North Korean intelligence activities will intensify in Japan.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct10
#Japan #China #NorthKorea #TokyoMetropolitanPoliceDepartment #TMPD #Police #Intelligence #Espionage
https://bit.ly/34uwBGA
Pompeo Accused China Eradicating All Faith that Do Not Conform to the Communist Regime on International Religious Freedom Day
On the International Religious Freedom Day on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticised China, Iran, and North Korea as the most seriously prosecuted countries in the world for religious freedom. He added that the three countries increased the restriction upon its people, especially for Beijing trying to eradicate all faith that violates the communist regime.
Pompeo in a statement mentioned the International Religious Freedom Act taking into effect 22 years ago on October 27, reiterating the promise on the promotion and the defence on the religious rights of everyone in the world. Pompeo stated that the US government has long been respectful the freedom of lifestyle regardless of their religion, dating back to the visions of the founding fathers of the US. He emphasised, religious and human dignity issues are of the core of US diplomatic relations, for now, and in the future.
Pompeo named China, Iran, and North Korea as three of the worst countries in the world, in terms of religious rights. “These countries are tightening their restriction to suppress their people. Worse still, China is trying to erase every religion not compatible with the communist regime.” He said.
#ReligiousFreedom #CCP #Pompeo #China #HumanRight #NorthKorea #Iran #ReligionEradication
Source: Apple Daily #Oct28
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201028/Q6MEDFFHKBE6BJNDGMX6XLBC6I/
On the International Religious Freedom Day on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticised China, Iran, and North Korea as the most seriously prosecuted countries in the world for religious freedom. He added that the three countries increased the restriction upon its people, especially for Beijing trying to eradicate all faith that violates the communist regime.
Pompeo in a statement mentioned the International Religious Freedom Act taking into effect 22 years ago on October 27, reiterating the promise on the promotion and the defence on the religious rights of everyone in the world. Pompeo stated that the US government has long been respectful the freedom of lifestyle regardless of their religion, dating back to the visions of the founding fathers of the US. He emphasised, religious and human dignity issues are of the core of US diplomatic relations, for now, and in the future.
Pompeo named China, Iran, and North Korea as three of the worst countries in the world, in terms of religious rights. “These countries are tightening their restriction to suppress their people. Worse still, China is trying to erase every religion not compatible with the communist regime.” He said.
#ReligiousFreedom #CCP #Pompeo #China #HumanRight #NorthKorea #Iran #ReligionEradication
Source: Apple Daily #Oct28
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201028/Q6MEDFFHKBE6BJNDGMX6XLBC6I/
UK sourced Protective Gowns from Chinese factories that secretly use North Koran slave labour
Chinese factories in Dandong are using forced labour from North Korea to produce protective gowns PPE for export to countries including UK, US, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Myanmar.
The use of North Korea workers in China breaches UN sanctions which aim to halt foreign export earnings being used to support the regime’s prohibited nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Most of North Korea workers in Dandong are women. Besides working for over 18 hours, they are under surveillance and are unable to leave the factories freely. And sources indicate 70% of wages of these works in PPE factories seized by the North Korean state.
Dandong has become a global centre of production for gown and coveralls because factories in Dandong can produce at the lowest by employing cheap North Korea labour for labour-intensive production.
Source: The Guardian #Nov20
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/nov/20/uk-sourced-ppe-from-factories-secretly-using-north-korean-slave-labour
#China #NorthKoreaSanction #PPE #UK #NorthKorea #Covid19
Chinese factories in Dandong are using forced labour from North Korea to produce protective gowns PPE for export to countries including UK, US, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Myanmar.
The use of North Korea workers in China breaches UN sanctions which aim to halt foreign export earnings being used to support the regime’s prohibited nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Most of North Korea workers in Dandong are women. Besides working for over 18 hours, they are under surveillance and are unable to leave the factories freely. And sources indicate 70% of wages of these works in PPE factories seized by the North Korean state.
Dandong has become a global centre of production for gown and coveralls because factories in Dandong can produce at the lowest by employing cheap North Korea labour for labour-intensive production.
Source: The Guardian #Nov20
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/nov/20/uk-sourced-ppe-from-factories-secretly-using-north-korean-slave-labour
#China #NorthKoreaSanction #PPE #UK #NorthKorea #Covid19
the Guardian
UK sourced PPE from factories secretly using North Korean slave labour
Exclusive: Guardian investigation finds evidence that Chinese PPE factories supplying UK government are breaking UN sanctions
Covert Chinese Trade With North Korea Moves Into the Open
China is no longer trying to hide smuggling activity as it seeks to help Pyongyang endure sanctions, U.S. officials say
A satellite photos provided by the United Nations Security Council showed a Chinese-flagged barge being loaded coal at North Korea’s Nampo in June, and North Korean-flagged coal vessels near Ningbo-Zhoushan in China in August
“North Korea is not bothering with this anymore. The shipments are directly from North Korea to China,” the U.S. official said. “That is definitely a big change from what we saw initially after the adoption of sanctions ”
Assuming the coal sold for $80 to $100 a ton in 2020, the value of the North Korea exports would range between $330 million and $410 million. The revenue is particularly significant given North Korea’s decision to cut cross-border trade with China to try to insulate itself from the global pandemic.
North Korea has other forms of illicit revenue, U.S. and U.N. experts say. the U.S. alleged that China hosts at least 20,000 North Korean laborers, who send their earnings home.
Source: WSJ #Dec07
https://www.wsj.com/articles/covert-chinese-trade-with-north-korea-moves-into-the-open-11607345372?st=0vx98kq7kj4relh&reflink=article_copyURL_share
#NorthKorea #China #USSanction #Smuggling
China is no longer trying to hide smuggling activity as it seeks to help Pyongyang endure sanctions, U.S. officials say
A satellite photos provided by the United Nations Security Council showed a Chinese-flagged barge being loaded coal at North Korea’s Nampo in June, and North Korean-flagged coal vessels near Ningbo-Zhoushan in China in August
“North Korea is not bothering with this anymore. The shipments are directly from North Korea to China,” the U.S. official said. “That is definitely a big change from what we saw initially after the adoption of sanctions ”
Assuming the coal sold for $80 to $100 a ton in 2020, the value of the North Korea exports would range between $330 million and $410 million. The revenue is particularly significant given North Korea’s decision to cut cross-border trade with China to try to insulate itself from the global pandemic.
North Korea has other forms of illicit revenue, U.S. and U.N. experts say. the U.S. alleged that China hosts at least 20,000 North Korean laborers, who send their earnings home.
Source: WSJ #Dec07
https://www.wsj.com/articles/covert-chinese-trade-with-north-korea-moves-into-the-open-11607345372?st=0vx98kq7kj4relh&reflink=article_copyURL_share
#NorthKorea #China #USSanction #Smuggling
WSJ
Covert Chinese Trade With North Korea Moves Into the Open
China is increasingly flouting international sanctions on North Korea and is no longer trying to hide some of its smuggling activity as it seeks to help Pyongyang endure sanctions, U.S. officials say.
US Criticises China’s Violation of North Korea Sanctions, Offers USD 5M for Information Providers
The US State Department criticised China on Tuesday (Nov 24) for publicly violating the international community’s sanction regime on North Korea and announced that Washington will offer a reward of USD 5 million (HKD 39 million) to any persons who provide information on individuals in violation of the sanctions on North Korea.
The US Deputy Assistant Secretary for North Korea Alex Wong accused China during a video speech at an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said that China was “seeking to undo” the UN’s sanctions on North Korea, in attempting to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. He criticised that a premature withdrawing of the sanction may weaken the bargaining power in the negotiations for denuclearisation.
Wong also said that there were at least 20 thousand North Korean labourers within the Chinese borders, and that some Chinese corporations were engaged with more than 20 North Koreans connected to weapons of mass destructions or banks in North Korea.
He added that in the past year, the US discovered that North Korean ships violated the bans for at least 555 times in the transportation of sanctioned products, including coal, to China, “On none of these occasions... did the Chinese authorities act to stop these illicit imports.” The US will offer USD 5 million rewards to individuals who could provide information on North Korea’s sanction evasions.
#US #China #NorthKorea #Washington #AlexWong #USDepartmentofStates #DOS #Nuclearisation #Denuclearisation #Sanction #UN #UnitedNations #nuclear #RewardOffer
Source: Apple Daily #Dec01
https://bit.ly/2N0idzK
The US State Department criticised China on Tuesday (Nov 24) for publicly violating the international community’s sanction regime on North Korea and announced that Washington will offer a reward of USD 5 million (HKD 39 million) to any persons who provide information on individuals in violation of the sanctions on North Korea.
The US Deputy Assistant Secretary for North Korea Alex Wong accused China during a video speech at an event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said that China was “seeking to undo” the UN’s sanctions on North Korea, in attempting to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. He criticised that a premature withdrawing of the sanction may weaken the bargaining power in the negotiations for denuclearisation.
Wong also said that there were at least 20 thousand North Korean labourers within the Chinese borders, and that some Chinese corporations were engaged with more than 20 North Koreans connected to weapons of mass destructions or banks in North Korea.
He added that in the past year, the US discovered that North Korean ships violated the bans for at least 555 times in the transportation of sanctioned products, including coal, to China, “On none of these occasions... did the Chinese authorities act to stop these illicit imports.” The US will offer USD 5 million rewards to individuals who could provide information on North Korea’s sanction evasions.
#US #China #NorthKorea #Washington #AlexWong #USDepartmentofStates #DOS #Nuclearisation #Denuclearisation #Sanction #UN #UnitedNations #nuclear #RewardOffer
Source: Apple Daily #Dec01
https://bit.ly/2N0idzK
US Reveals Indo-Pacific Strategic Framework, Suggests to Resist China, Helps India to rise and Assist Taiwan's Defence
The night before the US presidential power transfer, the Trump government announced a decrypted file called the US Strategic Framework for Indo-Pacific on Jan 12, revealing the US strategic details for the Indo-Pacific region, including helping India to accelerate its rise and assisting Taiwan to develop national defence strategies, in order to counterbalance China. The Foreign Affairs Ministry of China criticised that the US used the Indo-Pacific strategy to suppress China, undermining the peace and the stability of the region.
This strategic framework was originally regarded as a confidential document, but the Trump government decided to make it public before the government changes. The document was approved by President Trump in February 2018 and has provided "overall strategic guidance" to the US operation for three years, stating that the US would maintain the long term promises on freedom and openness to the Indo-Pacific region.
Robert O'Brien, the US National Security Advisor, criticised in a press release that Beijing is increasing the pressure on the Indo-Pacific region, requesting these countries to submit their freedom and sovereignty to the "mutual fate" suggested by the CCP.
The document suggested an objective: North Korea will no longer be a threat, India will dominate South Asia, and the US will collaborate with the allies, to stand against China's coercive undermining sovereignty actions. The US expected that they could be India's first preferred partner regarding safety issues. Both countries will cooperate to maintain maritime safety and to resist China's influence on South and Southeast Asia.
Source: Stand News #Jan13
https://bit.ly/3fuUP9U
#US #China #Taiwan #NorthKorea #India #SouthAsia #SoutheasAsia #RobertOBrien #IndoPacific #StrategicFramework #Trump
The night before the US presidential power transfer, the Trump government announced a decrypted file called the US Strategic Framework for Indo-Pacific on Jan 12, revealing the US strategic details for the Indo-Pacific region, including helping India to accelerate its rise and assisting Taiwan to develop national defence strategies, in order to counterbalance China. The Foreign Affairs Ministry of China criticised that the US used the Indo-Pacific strategy to suppress China, undermining the peace and the stability of the region.
This strategic framework was originally regarded as a confidential document, but the Trump government decided to make it public before the government changes. The document was approved by President Trump in February 2018 and has provided "overall strategic guidance" to the US operation for three years, stating that the US would maintain the long term promises on freedom and openness to the Indo-Pacific region.
Robert O'Brien, the US National Security Advisor, criticised in a press release that Beijing is increasing the pressure on the Indo-Pacific region, requesting these countries to submit their freedom and sovereignty to the "mutual fate" suggested by the CCP.
The document suggested an objective: North Korea will no longer be a threat, India will dominate South Asia, and the US will collaborate with the allies, to stand against China's coercive undermining sovereignty actions. The US expected that they could be India's first preferred partner regarding safety issues. Both countries will cooperate to maintain maritime safety and to resist China's influence on South and Southeast Asia.
Source: Stand News #Jan13
https://bit.ly/3fuUP9U
#US #China #Taiwan #NorthKorea #India #SouthAsia #SoutheasAsia #RobertOBrien #IndoPacific #StrategicFramework #Trump
立場新聞 Stand News
美國解封「印太戰略框架」文件 提出抗衡中國 協助印度崛起及台灣國防 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
在美國總統權力交接的前夕，特朗普政府周二（12 日）宣布解密一份名為《美國印太戰略框架》的文件，披露美國在印太...
How China’s Hacking Entered a Reckless New Phase
For years, China seemed to operate at the quieter end of the state-sponsored-hacking spectrum. While Russia and North Korea carried out hack-and-leak operations, launched massively disruptive cyberattacks, and blurred the line between cybercriminals and intelligence agencies, China quietly focused on more traditional—if prolific—espionage and intellectual property theft. But a collective message today from dozens of countries calls out a shift in China's online behavior—and how its primary cyber intelligence agency's trail of chaos increasingly rivals that of the Kim Regime or the Kremlin.
Source: Wired #Jul20
https://t.co/GaLdf8UTGR
#China #Russia #NorthKorea #Hacking
For years, China seemed to operate at the quieter end of the state-sponsored-hacking spectrum. While Russia and North Korea carried out hack-and-leak operations, launched massively disruptive cyberattacks, and blurred the line between cybercriminals and intelligence agencies, China quietly focused on more traditional—if prolific—espionage and intellectual property theft. But a collective message today from dozens of countries calls out a shift in China's online behavior—and how its primary cyber intelligence agency's trail of chaos increasingly rivals that of the Kim Regime or the Kremlin.
Source: Wired #Jul20
https://t.co/GaLdf8UTGR
#China #Russia #NorthKorea #Hacking
Missile funding?: #NorthKorea seen smuggling coal to #China
Source: Asia Nikkei #Jun29
Read more
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Source: Asia Nikkei #Jun29
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Missile funding?: #NorthKorea seen smuggling coal to #China
//North Korea is likely shipping coal directly to Chinese ports, activity that is banned from international trade under United Nations Security Council sanctions, a Nikkei investigation found.
Nikkei obtained satellite images of a North Korean-registered ship carrying coal, and confirmed that the ship directly went to China by examining data from the vessel's automatic identification system (AIS).
It is likely that China -- one of five permanent members of the Security Council -- is involved in smuggling activities and shows that current U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang to prevent it acquiring funds for missile development are not being fully implemented...
Nikkei obtained data on about 180 vessels -- including North Korean-flagged ships and vessels that had been cited for sanctions violations in the past -- from ship information companies MarineTraffic and Refinitiv, and traced their movements for about 18 months from January 2021.
There were 37 vessels that stayed in the port of Longkou for several days while transmitting AIS data. Similarly, at least 20 vessels called at ports in Liaoning and Hebei provinces, which handle large volumes of coal.
Regarding the movements of North Korean vessels, there have been previous reports that they would cut their AIS transmissions, making them impossible to follow, and trade at night.
Observers have often noted ship-to-ship transfers North Korea has used to circumvent conventional distribution channels, but it appears the country does not try to hide sanction-violating shipments anymore.//
Source: Asia Nikkei #Jun29
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/N-Korea-at-crossroads/Missile-funding-North-Korea-seen-smuggling-coal-to-China
#UN #CCP
//North Korea is likely shipping coal directly to Chinese ports, activity that is banned from international trade under United Nations Security Council sanctions, a Nikkei investigation found.
Nikkei obtained satellite images of a North Korean-registered ship carrying coal, and confirmed that the ship directly went to China by examining data from the vessel's automatic identification system (AIS).
It is likely that China -- one of five permanent members of the Security Council -- is involved in smuggling activities and shows that current U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang to prevent it acquiring funds for missile development are not being fully implemented...
Nikkei obtained data on about 180 vessels -- including North Korean-flagged ships and vessels that had been cited for sanctions violations in the past -- from ship information companies MarineTraffic and Refinitiv, and traced their movements for about 18 months from January 2021.
There were 37 vessels that stayed in the port of Longkou for several days while transmitting AIS data. Similarly, at least 20 vessels called at ports in Liaoning and Hebei provinces, which handle large volumes of coal.
Regarding the movements of North Korean vessels, there have been previous reports that they would cut their AIS transmissions, making them impossible to follow, and trade at night.
Observers have often noted ship-to-ship transfers North Korea has used to circumvent conventional distribution channels, but it appears the country does not try to hide sanction-violating shipments anymore.//
Source: Asia Nikkei #Jun29
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/N-Korea-at-crossroads/Missile-funding-North-Korea-seen-smuggling-coal-to-China
#UN #CCP
Nikkei Asia
Missile funding?: North Korea seen smuggling coal to China
Nikkei probe of satellite imagery finds both nations may be violating UN sanctions