A man in California has been arrested for allegedly sending weapons and ammunition to North Korea from the U.S., prosecutors announced Tuesday.
The big picture: Shenghua Wen, a Chinese national living unlawfully in Ontario, is accused of spending $2 million on weapons for Pyongyang and allegedly told the FBI he believed Kim Jong-un’s regime wanted the arms “to prepare for an attack against South Korea,” per a criminal complaint.
- Wen, who entered the U.S. on a since-expired student visa in 2012, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a federal law prohibiting such shipments.
Zoom in: The 41-year-old told investigators that the North Korean government wanted him to obtain military uniforms in the U.S. “to disguise their soldiers to conduct a surprise attack on South Korea,” the complaint alleges.
- The U.S. has a large military presence in South Korea and regularly conducts drills with the key ally that are designed to counter threats from Pyongyang.
What they’re saying: Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, in a statement Tuesday it is “essential that we protect our country from hostile foreign states that have adverse interests” to the U.S.
- “We have arrested a defendant who allegedly acted at the direction of the North Korean government by conspiring to illegally ship firearms, ammunition, and other military equipment to North Korea,” Estrada added.
- FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis said in a statement the “significance of this arrest and discovery of this scheme cannot be overstated.”
- Davis added: “Not only did the investigative team prevent additional restricted items going to the North Korean regime, but they gathered valuable intelligence for the United States and our allies.”
What we’re watching: Wen faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison in convicted.
- His arraignment is expected to occur in the coming weeks, prosecutors said.
