Chinese man in US pleads guilty to exporting guns, ammo to North Korea

California nonmigratory shipped astatine slightest 3 containers of guns bound for North Korea, according to prosecutors.

A Chinese antheral surviving illegally successful the United States has pleaded blameworthy to exporting guns, ammunition and different subject items to North Korea astatine the absorption of Pyongyang, the US Department of Justice has said.

Shenghua Wen, of Ontario, California, admitted to 1 number of conspiracy to interruption the International Emergency Economic Powers Act – a 1977 instrumentality that empowers the president to restrict commerce with countries connected nationalist information grounds – and 1 number of acting arsenic an amerciable cause of a overseas government, the Justice Department said connected Monday.

Wen, 42, shipped astatine slightest 3 containers of guns bound for North Korea successful 2023, 1 of which arrived successful Nampo, North Korea, via Hong Kong, according to prosecutors.

To facilitate the scheme, Wen bought a firearms concern successful Houston, Texas, and utilized mendacious paperwork to conceal the contents of his shipping containers, according to prosecutors.

Wen, who was arrested successful December, besides allegedly bought astir 60,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition and obtained “sensitive technology”, including a chemic menace recognition device, for shipment to North Korea.

Wen was allegedly directed to procure the weapons and delicate goods by North Korean officials helium met astatine the North Korean Embassy successful China earlier entering the US connected a pupil visa successful 2012.

Wen was allegedly transferred astir $2m to transportation retired the scheme.

“Wen admitted that astatine each applicable times helium knew that it was amerciable to vessel firearms, ammunition, and delicate exertion to North Korea. He besides admitted to ne'er having the required licenses to export ammunition, firearms, and the above-described devices to North Korea,” the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said successful a property release.

“He further admitted to acting astatine the absorption of North Korean authorities officials and that helium had not provided notification to the Attorney General of the United States that helium was acting successful the United States astatine the absorption and power of North Korea arsenic required by law.”

During questioning by the FBI, Wen said helium believed the North Korean authorities wanted the weapons and ammunition to hole for an onslaught against South Korea, according to a transgression ailment filed successful September.

Wen is owed to look tribunal for sentencing successful August.

He faces a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison for violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and up to 10 years for acting arsenic an amerciable cause of a overseas government.