Case 052: Rim Jong Hyok | Cyber Espionage, Ransomware, and North Korea’s Hidden War

He hacked hospitals.He targeted NASA.And he did it all for the regime.In this episode of Fugitive Files, we uncover the digital warfare campaign led by Rim Jong Hyok, a North Korean national and alleged member of the elite, state-sponsored hacking unit known as “Andariel”, also referred to as APT45 or Onyx Sleet.According to U.S. federal prosecutors, Rim orchestrated ransomware attacks on American hospitals, including a devastating strike on a Kansas facility that crippled critical systems and put lives at risk. But these attacks weren’t about profit—they were about power.Authorities say the ransom proceeds were laundered and funneled back into a broader campaign of cyber espionage, targeting NASA, U.S. defense contractors, military installations, and sensitive operations in South Korea and Taiwan. The goal? Fund North Korea’s military and nuclear ambitions through digital extortion and global chaos.Rim Jong Hyok has been indicted for:Conspiracy to commit wire fraudConspiracy to commit computer fraudState-sponsored cyberterrorismHe remains at large in North Korea, under protection of the regime. The FBI is offering $10 million for information leading to his capture.This is the new face of warfare.Unseen. Untraceable. And terrifyingly real.This is Fugitive Files. Let’s get into it.