CIA Implicated in Attack on North Korean Embassy in Madrid
By Miguel González and Patricia Ortega Dolz, El País
15 March 19
According to Spanish investigators, two of the men who broke into the
diplomatic headquarters have connections to the US intelligence service
Nvestigators from the Spanish police and National Intelligence Center (CNI)
have linked an attack on the North Korean embassy in Madrid on February 22
to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
At least two of the 10 assailants who broke into the embassy and
interrogated diplomatic staff have been identified and have connections to
the US intelligence agency. The CIA has denied any involvement but
government sources say their response was unconvincing.
If it is proven that the CIA was behind the attack, it could lead to a
diplomatic spat between Madrid and Washington. Government sources say that
it would be unacceptable for an ally to take such action. Not only would
it mean that the US agency had operated on Spanish soil without asking for
authorization or informing the authorities, it would also be a violation of
the international conventions that protect diplomatic delegations.
Whats more, unlike other intelligence activities such as cyberattacks,
which are characterized by their discretion, the attack on the North Korean
embassy was especially violent. On February 22 at 3pm, 10 masked men
carrying alleged imitation weapons broke into the embassy, located north of
the capital in the residential area of Aravaca. They tied up the eight
people inside and put bags on their heads. The victims were beaten and
interrogated. A woman managed to escape from a window on the second floor
and her screams for help were heard by a neighbor, who contacted the police.
Officers arrived at the scene but when they tried to enter the embassy a man
opened the door to them and told them that there was nothing going on.
Minutes later, two luxury vehicles sped out of the embassy. The cars used
for the getaway belonged to the diplomatic mission and were later abandoned
in a nearby street.
Police found the eight victims inside. They had been held hostage for two
hours, had had bags placed over their heads, had been beaten and were
scared. Two of them required medical attention.
Investigators from the General Information Office (CGI) and CNI ruled out
the idea that the attack was the work of common criminals. The operation was
perfectly planned as if it were carried out by a military cell, said
sources close to the investigation. The assailants knew what they were
looking for, taking only computers and mobile phones.
The highly secretive investigation will be heard at Spains High Court, the
Audiencia Nacional, which could order the arrest of the identified
assailants. Government sources, however, admit it would be difficult to
prove the CIA was involved in court.
Kim Hyok Chol
Sources believe that the goal of the attack on the North Korean embassy was
to get information on Kim Hyok Chol, the former North Korean ambassador to
Spain.
Kim Hyok Chol was expelled from Spain on September 19, 2017 by the
then-Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis given that the nuclear testing
that the country was carrying out at the time was in serious breach of
United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Kim Hyok Chol, who was declared persona non grata by Spain and was invited
to leave the country before the end of the month, is currently one of Kim
Jong-uns highly trusted diplomats, and one of the architects of the failed
nuclear summit between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jon-un in Vietnam.
The meeting, aimed at securing North Koreas nuclear disarmament, ended in
failure without any agreement on a timetable for disarmament or on future
negotiations.
In February, Kim Hyok Chol also led the North Korean delegation that
negotiated a nuclear disarmament plan with US special envoy Stephen Biegun
in exchange for sanctions to be lifted.
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