A man in his 30s was recently arrested by the Ministry of State Security for scamming people out of money by pretending to be North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui’s nephew.
A source in Ryanggang province said Wednesday that the man — a native of Sariwon, North Hwanghae province and a graduate of the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies who was identified by his family name of Choe — is undergoing questioning in confinement after being arrested by the Ministry of State Security’s Samjiyon branch on Nov. 8.
Choe orchestrated his scam by exploiting his shared surname with the foreign minister, presenting himself to wealthy individuals as both the minister’s nephew and a human resources official at the foreign ministry. He promised to help their children secure university admissions and government positions in exchange for bribes, ultimately amassing around $60,000 over the course of a year.
His method was straightforward but effective: dressed in expensive suits, he would cultivate relationships with officials and wealthy individuals through lavish spending, using proceeds from his previous schemes to fund his lifestyle. He even hired officials’ drivers to chauffeur him around the provinces, allowing him to expand his operation nationwide while maintaining an air of legitimacy.
“Choi largely carried out his scams in Pyongyang, the border regions of North Hamgyong and Ryanggang provinces, and South Hamgyong province,” the source said. “He made money by meeting and deceiving wealthy and powerful people in these places until he was caught.”
When his victims began demanding results, Choe would simply disappear and resurface in a different region. Eventually, several frustrated victims investigated his background and uncovered his true identity as a con artist.
Choe then relocated his operation to Samjiyon in Ryanggang province, continuing his scheme with the same tactics. However, his luck ran out when the Ministry of State Security arrested him after receiving reports from another region where he had operated.
The ministry’s involvement was triggered by Choe’s activities in border regions like Ryanggang and the Hamgyong provinces, far from his registered residence. Authorities suspected he might have made illegal crossings into China, warranting their intervention.
According to the source Choe’s year-long spree of nationwide fraud was made possible by his impersonation of Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui’s nephew. The Ministry of State Security believes victims were reluctant to report him, fearing that his supposed powerful connections would not only protect him from punishment but could also lead to retaliation against them.
The ministry plans to transfer Choe from Ryanggang province to his hometown of Sariwon in North Hwanghae province for further proceedings.
“The investigation extends beyond Choe himself to include the associates who helped establish his credibility,” the source said. “He is certain to face severe punishment.”
Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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November 29, 2024 at 12:53PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)