South Korean prosecutors arrest and indict man in his 50s for collaborating with North Korean hackers to distribute gambling site

The head of distribution who collaborated with hackers from the North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau to set up a gambling website and raked in illegal profits worth over tens of billions of won (US$1.2 billion) has been put on trial.
The first public investigation division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is investigating whether the North Korean 313 General Bureau (formerly the Chosun Conglomerate) in China was involved in the illegal transfer of funds to North Korea.
The suspect, A, who worked with hackers from the National Security Center and other organizations to create an illegal gambling site and distribute it illegally throughout Korea, was charged with violating the National Security Act, setting up a gambling space, and concealing criminal proceeds.
On the 26th, the North Korean government announced that the suspect had been arrested and indicted on suspicion of violating the law on the punishment of crimes against humanity, etc. The suspect, A, had been in continuous contact with hackers belonging to the 313 General Bureau and the Reconnaissance General Bureau under the Ministry of Munitions Industry of North Korea.
However, he is suspected of selling 16 illegal gambling sites (71 domains) created by North Korean hackers to domestic gambling site operators from 2022 to last year.
The investigation found that after coming into direct contact with North Korean hackers in China, he established a comprehensive consulting organization for illegal gambling sites.
The North Korean 313 General Bureau is the department that oversees North Korea's information technology strategy, and has established branches in Dandong, China, and other locations.
They are earning foreign currency by receiving orders for illegal programming services, and in times of emergency, they will also function as a base for cyber warfare against South Korea.
The prosecution said the illegal profits transferred to the illegal account used in the crime were for the three years and five months the crime was committed.
The total amounted to approximately 23.5 billion won (US$25 million), and the government suspects that 30% of this amount was given to North Korean hackers and turned over to the North Korean regime.
The investigation, which began as a spy job by the National Intelligence Service in January 2023, began in earnest in November of the same year when police seized and searched the residence of suspect A, who had entered the country. The prosecution believes that the three accomplices of the organization are from China and Vietnam.
"For personal gain, he threatened the safety of the people and the basic order of a free and democratic society, and is a threat to cyber terrorism from North Korea against South Korea," the prosecution said.
"We will take strict measures against such crimes that undermine national security and aggravate the situation."