A Chinese national residing illegally in the United States has been charged with supplying weapons and military technology to North Korea, according to the Justice Department. Shenghua Wen, based in Ontario, California, allegedly orchestrated at least two shipments of firearms and ammunition from Long Beach to North Korea via Hong Kong.
Federal agents seized a chemical threat identification device and a handheld broadband receiver, designed to detect hidden listening devices, from Wen's residence. He reportedly confessed to procuring these items for the North Korean government's military. Additionally, 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition were confiscated from Wen's van, which he allegedly admitted were also destined for North Korea.
Wen, who entered the U.S. on a student visa in 2012 and overstayed, reportedly confessed to meeting with North Korean officials at consulates in China before arriving in the U.S. They allegedly tasked him with procuring goods, believing in his smuggling abilities, and wired him approximately $2 million for the purchases. Wen allegedly stated his belief that North Korea intended to use the weapons and ammunition for a potential attack on South Korea, including a surprise attack involving military uniforms he was asked to obtain.
To facilitate the arms purchases, Wen reportedly bought an armory and a federal firearm license for $150,000, registering the business under his partner's name. He then used straw purchasers to acquire firearms, which he transported from Texas to California on three separate occasions before shipping them to China, knowing they would be forwarded to North Korea.
The shipments allegedly took place in October and December 2023. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada described the situation as "chilling," highlighting the gravity of a foreign adversary operating within the U.S. to obtain military equipment for a potential attack on an ally.
