# Arbitrum Faces Restraining Order as North Korea Victims Target Seized KelpDAO Funds

*Author: Jack Inabinet*
*Published: May 1, 2026*
*Source: https://www.bankless.com/read/news/arbitrum-faces-restraining-order-as-north-korea-victims-target-seized-kelpdao-funds*

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The family of a South Korean pastor killed by North Korea is seeking to recover its court-awarded damages via funds seized by Arbitrum from last month's KelpDAO exploit.

### What's the Scoop?
- **Restraining Order: **Lawyers representing the victims of North Korean terror have filed for a restraining against Arbitrum, targeting assets [seized](https://www.bankless.com/read/news/arbitrum-security-council-freezes-70m-eth-tied-to-kelpdao-exploit) from the suspected DPRK [hack](https://www.bankless.com/read/news/kelp-dao-bridge-drained-for-292m-in-rseth) of KelpDAO, a development that is bound to complicate efforts to return approximately $70M in frozen funds to victims of the exploit.
- **Case Background:** Han Kim and Yong Seok Kim – U.S. nationals whose family member (a South Korean pastor) was abducted from China and killed by North Korea – were awarded $15M each in compensatory damages and $300M in punitive damages against North Korea by a [landmark 2015 ruling](https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/20558/3/prepublication%20Han%20Kim%20case%20Note.pdf) handed down by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Despite the judgment, plaintiffs have struggled to collect compensation from the isolated regime.

> This is why the Arbitrum Security Council was not kind to the DAO. Lawyers for DPRK victims have now found a large pile of DPRK assets to seize to make good on a 2015 judgement against DPRK.It appears a restraining order prohibiting the transfer of funds will complicate the… [pic.twitter.com/P335TYlF71](https://t.co/P335TYlF71)— PaperImperium (@ImperiumPaper) [May 2, 2026](https://twitter.com/ImperiumPaper/status/2050395870831456601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)