Shenghua Wen got US$2 million from Pyongyang and believed Pyongyang wanted to attack South Korea, Justice Department says
The US has sentenced a Chinese national to eight years in prison for illegally exporting firearms, ammunition, and other military items to North Korea via Hong Kong in return for US$2 million in payments from Pyongyang “for his efforts”, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.
Taking advantage of lax US gun laws, Shenghua Wen, 42, purchased many of the weapons in Texas and drove them to California, where they were shipped out of the Port of Long Beach, according to court documents. At least one shipment was listed as a refrigerator on export documents.
“Wen is a citizen of the People’s Republic of China who entered the United States in 2012 on a student visa and remained in the US illegally after his student visa expired in December 2013,” the department said.
“Prior to entering the United States, Wen met with officials from North Korea’s government” at two North Korean consulates in China who directed Wen to procure goods on Pyongyang’s behalf, it added.
