The Australian Federal Police said 59-year-old naturalized Australian Chan Han Choi used encrypted communication to broker sales and discuss the supply of weapons of mass destruction. They did not elaborate, but some Australian news media reports said he was born in South Korea. "The AFP are saying this man was a loyal agent of North Korea, believing he was acting to serve some high patriotic purpose," Gaughan said. "We're alleging all of the activity occurred offshore." Choi is facing six charges related to brokering the sale of missile componentry and expertise from North Korea to other international entities, and attempting to transfer coal from North Korea to entities in Indonesia and Vietnam. The investigation started this year after the police received information from a foreign law enforcement partner about a different matter. Choi is the first person charged under Australia's Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and could face a maximum 10-year prison sentence. “It means the North Koreans are still trying to access whatever componentry they can, even in a high-risk country like Australia.” 
 
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 For years, North Korea has found ways to skirt sanctions to obtain technology and earn hard currency by selling not just weapons but also counterfeit money and drugs. “This investigation shows that the United Nations and Australian sanctions will be rigorously enforced in Australia,” he said.
– Australia on Saturday arrested one of its own citizens and charged him with acting as an economic agent on behalf of North Korea in attempting to sell the Hermit Kingdom's missile technology, reports the New York Times. South Korean-born Chan Han Choi, 59, was "discussing the supply of weapons of mass destruction" with unnamed "international entities," said an official with the Australian Federal Police. Among missile components he was allegedly trying to sell on behalf of Pyongyang was guiding software for ballistic missiles, as well as what the Times calls "unspecified North Korean military expertise." Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull called the arrest a "very, very serious matter" on behalf of a "dangerous, reckless, criminal regime," reports the AP, and said that for anyone with similar intentions, "the AFP will find you." Choi's alleged actions are in violation of Australian and United Nations sanctions against North Korea; he faces six charges that also include trying to sell coal to parties in Indonesia and Vietnam. He's the first person charged under Australia's Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, and could face 10 years in prison, notes the AP. Police say the charges relate to activities over the past year, but that Choi has been active dating back to 2008. Two unsuccessful transactions Choi attempted would have been worth "tens of millions of dollars" for North Korea, says the AFP official. Adds Turnbull, "it is vitally important that all nations work relentlessly to enforce those sanctions because the more economic pressure that can be brought on North Korea, the sooner that regime will be brought to its senses."