SIM HYON-SOP
Also known as: Ali Sim, Sim Hajim
Current age (if alive)
42
Gender
male
Nationality
Pyongyang, North Korea
Date of case
3/13/2023
Country
United States
Physical Description
Eye color
Brown
Hair color
Black
Ethnicity
Asian
Caution
Sim Hyon-Sop is a North Korean national who works for the Foreign Trade Bank (FTB) of North Korea, which has been sanctioned by the United States. It is alleged that Sim helped transact with customers that traded with North Korea and ensured money could move in and out of North Korea without interruption, despite U.S. sanctions. For roughly a decade, Sim allegedly played a pivotal role in defrauding U.S. banks by remitting U.S. dollar payments to facilitate trade on behalf of North Korea. On March 21, 2023, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Sim Hyon-Sop in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C., after he was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Conspiracy to Violate and Violations of International Emergency Economic Powers Act, North Korean Sanctions Regulations, Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, and Laundering Monetary Instruments.
Remarks
Sim Hyon-Sop has ties to or may visit North Korea, China, and the United Arab Emirates.
Reward
The United States Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Sim Hyon-Sop.
Last updated: 5/30/2026