Chinese National Smuggled Weapons to North Korea While Illegally Residing in U.S.

Smuggled Firearms and Ammunition to North Korea Disguised as Refrigerators
Illegally Stayed in the U.S. for 12 Years After Entering on a Student Visa

A Chinese national who was illegally residing in the United States and received $2 million (approximately 2.7 billion KRW) from North Korea in exchange for smuggling firearms, ammunition, and electronic devices has agreed with prosecutors to plead guilty in court.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice on June 9 (local time), Wen Shenghua, a 42-year-old Chinese citizen illegally residing in Ontario, California, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and one count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.

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Wen entered the United States in 2012 on a student visa but remained in the country after his visa expired in December 2013. Before entering the U.S., he reportedly met with North Korean government officials at the North Korean embassy in China. The North Korean officials asked Wen to procure goods in the United States and send them to North Korea.

In 2022, Wen received instructions via online messenger from two North Korean government officials to purchase firearms and other items in the United States and smuggle them to North Korea via China. In May of the following year, using funds sent by the North Korean side, Wen purchased a gun store in Houston, Texas. He then disguised firearms and ammunition as refrigerators and loaded them into a shipping container in Long Beach, California, for smuggling. The shipment was routed through Hong Kong and headed to Nampo Port in North Korea. Wen received $2 million from the North Korean government as payment for these activities.

In August of last year, investigators seized two military devices from Wen's home that he intended to send to North Korea: a military chemical threat identification device and a portable wideband receiver for detecting wiretapping equipment. A month later, in September of the same year, authorities seized approximately 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition believed to have been purchased by Wen for shipment to North Korea. Wen was detained by federal prosecutors in December of last year. Analysis of his mobile phone reportedly revealed evidence of illicit dealings with North Korean officials.

The U.S. Department of Justice also stated that Wen attempted to purchase thermal imaging equipment that could be mounted on drones or aircraft, as well as civilian aircraft engines, from U.S. brokers. Wen faces up to 20 years in prison for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and up to 10 years for acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. His sentencing is scheduled for August 18.