The person at the center of this case
United States financial system and sanctioning authority
Cold Case · Open
3 years waiting · since 2023
SIM HYON-SOP
Justice for United States financial system and sanctioning authority — the trail went cold in 2023, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1What specific U.S. banks were defrauded and how did Sim Hyon-Sop conceal the North Korean origin of transactions?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What documentation or financial records prove Sim's role in facilitating sanctions evasion over the alleged decade-long scheme?
📍
location
Lead #3Where is Sim Hyon-Sop currently located—North Korea, China, or the UAE—and does he maintain active financial networks in these regions?
Sim Hyon-Sop, a North Korean national employed by the Foreign Trade Bank of North Korea, is wanted for allegedly orchestrating a decade-long scheme to defraud U.S. banks and circumvent American sanctions on North Korea. Working with accomplices, he facilitated illicit financial transactions that allowed money to flow in and out of North Korea despite strict U.S. economic restrictions. A federal arrest warrant was issued on March 21, 2023, and he remains at large with suspected ties to North Korea, China, and the United Arab Emirates.
Case
#886
United States District Court for the District of Columbia; Federal Bureau of Investigation
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
📞
contact
Lead #4Who were Sim's accomplices and intermediaries in the U.S. banking system that enabled the fraudulent transactions?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud; Conspiracy to Violate and Violations of International Emergency Economic Powers Act; North Korean Sanctions Regulations; Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments; Laundering Monetary Instruments Caution: Sim Hyon-Sop is a North Korean national who works for the Foreign Trade Bank (FTB) of North Korea, which has been sanctioned by the United States. It is alleged that Sim helped transact with customers that traded with North Korea and ensured money could move in and out of North Korea without interruption, despite U.S.
sanctions. For roughly a decade, Sim allegedly played a pivotal role in defrauding U.S.
banks by remitting U.S. dollar payments to facilitate trade on behalf of North Korea.
On March 21, 2023, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Sim Hyon-Sop in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C., after he was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Conspiracy to Violate and Violations of International Emergency Economic Powers Act, North Korean Sanctions Regulations, Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, and Laundering Monetary Instruments. Remarks: Sim Hyon-Sop has ties to or may visit North Korea, China, and the United Arab Emirates.
Timeline of Events
🕵️
2023-03-21
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Sim Hyon-Sop in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, violations of International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and money laundering.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:March 21, 2023
Last Updated:June 14, 2026
Up to $5 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
Leave a comment
Comments
Case Information
Incident:March 21, 2023
Last Updated:June 14, 2026
Up to $5 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case