This article was originally published by Radio Free Asia and is reprinted with permission.
The United States arrested a man in Ontario, California, for allegedly orchestrating illegal shipments of firearms, ammunition and military equipment to North Korea with the intent of supporting a “surprise attack” by North Korea on the South.
Chinese national Shenghua Wen, 41, who was living illegally in the U.S. on an expired student visa, faces charges of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
According to a federal complaint filed Nov. 26, Wen allegedly concealed firearms and ammunition in shipping containers that were routed through Hong Kong with a final destination in North Korea, violating both federal law and U.S. sanctions.
Law enforcement officials seized several items from Wen’s residence on Aug. 14, including a chemical threat identification device and a handheld broadband receiver for detecting eavesdropping devices.
In a subsequent raid on Sept. 6, authorities confiscated approximately 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition allegedly intended for North Korea.
An investigation of Wen’s iPhone revealed evidence of smuggling activities dating back to December 2023, including messages discussing military-grade equipment shipments with co-conspirators.
Between January and April, Wen reportedly communicated with a U.S.-based broker about acquiring a civilian plane engine, with text messages showing price negotiations for both the plane and its engine.
“These engines would be used to help develop the North Korean military drone program,” Wen is said to have told federal authorities, according to the affidavit.
During questioning, Wen allegedly said that North Korea wanted those items “to prepare for an attack against South Korea.”
In addition to weapons and equipment, Wen told investigators Pyongyang also tasked him with obtaining military uniforms in the U.S., which “would subsequently be used by the North Korean military to disguise their soldiers to conduct a surprise attack on South Korea.”
“The results of today’s arrest and search warrants are a testament to HSI and our partner agencies commitment to national security and protecting our sensitive technology,” said Homeland Security Investigations, or HSI, San Diego Special Agent in Charge Shawn Gibson.
“It is a federal crime to illegally obtain and export certain US technologies by foreign countries and those who seek to circumvent the law will be thoroughly investigated.”
As a non-citizen illegally present in the U.S., Wen was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. He also lacked the necessary U.S. government licenses to export such materials to North Korea.
Wen’s student visa was valid from December 2012 to December 2013, the affidavit said. In 2018, he was ordered to be removed from the United States.
Wen was previously arrested in 2021 and at the time signed a form acknowledging his overstay status.
