Australian man accused of brokering NoKo missile sales

Australian police arrested a Sydney man who is accused of brokering weapons components to the North Koreans, some of which includes components used in ballistic missiles.

The suspect is a 59-year-old naturalized Australian citizen who was born in South Korea but evidently has ties to the North.

Neil Gaughan, Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner said of the situation, "This case is like nothing we have ever seen on Australia soil. This is black market 101."

Police say the man generated tens of millions of dollars for the Pyongyang regime by arranging the sale of missiles, components and expertise from North Korea to other international players and he was even trying to arrange the transfer of coal from North Korea to Indonesia and Vietnam.

"This man was acting as a loyal agent for North Korea who believed he was acting to serve some higher patriotic purpose," Gaughan said. "I think at the end of the day he would sell whatever he could to make money back for the North Korean government."

Gaughan doesn't believe that any weapons or components passed through Australia. "We're alleging all the activity occurred offshore," he said.

The suspect faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence under Australia's Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, but Gaughan said the investigation is still ongoing and more charges are expected.


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