Chinese National in California Pleads Guilty to Exporting Military Items to North Korea

The illegal immigrant from China allegedly received $2 million from North Korean officials to buy firearms and other goods.

Signage at the U.S. Department of Justice headquarters in Washington on Aug. 29, 2020. Andrew Kelly/Reuters

A Chinese national who had been illegally residing in California pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of exporting ammunition and other military items to North Korea, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Wen Shenghua, 42, was arrested in December 2024 and has since been in federal custody. He was accused of purchasing firearms and other items at the direction of North Korean officials, the DOJ said in a statement.