Madrid Raid Warrants Issued
The Spanish High Court lifted a secrecy order in the 22 February raid case and named one Mexican national US resident, one US citizen, and one ROK citizen as suspects. The court believes all three named suspects fled to the US and plans to seek extradition to Spain for the charges of trespassing, threats, illegal detention, burglary, and assault. No information was given about the identities or whereabouts of the remaining 7 suspects.
The court identified the group’s arrival, movements within the country, purchases of knives, balaclavas, and fake guns, as well as departure from the country. Additionally, the court indicated that the group’s leader applied for a new passport at the Mexican embassy in Madrid prior to the raid. Notably, the court claimed that the group’s leader contacted the FBI in New York in an attempt to deliver materials retrieved from the DPRK embassy in Madrid. However, the court did not comment on how they were able to identify the Mexican national’s communications with the FBI.
US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino denied US involvement in the raid stating, “The United States government had nothing to do with this.” The group’s apparent use of personal passports supports that claim, and we don’t know if the FBI actually accepted any material retrieved from the embassy. Considering that the Spanish authorities issued international arrest warrants and will be applying for extradition, we should be receiving more information about the raid and the proposed connection to the CCD in the near future.
Cheollima Civil Defense Statement
The CCD released a statement on their website today regarding the Madrid raid. Notably, the group claimed
That said, this was not an attack. We responded to an urgent situation in the Madrid embassy. We were invited into the embassy, and contrary to reports, no one was gagged or beaten. Out of respect for the host nation of Spain, no weapons were used. All occupants in the embassy were treated with dignity and necessary caution. There were no other governments involved with or aware of our activity until after the event. The Hanoi Summit had no relation to this operation. We recognize and apologize for any inconveniences caused to the authorities of Spain, who have been caught in the middle of a difficult situation.
The group’s claims that they were “invited into the embassy” that “no one was gagged or beaten” and “no weapons were used” are of particular interest as they directly contradict official accounts of the event. Further, the group’s claim to be responding to an urgent situation hint at a possible motive of helping an individual defect, possibly business envoy So Yun Sok. Ultimately, So did not defect and reports of being tied, gagged, and beaten would help dispel any questions from Pyongyang about his role in the raid. Additionally, we must ask ourselves where was the embassy security staff and why did they not respond to the raid? The group further hints at this line of thought by stating
We have evidence verifying our account. It is to protect those who seek our help, and those who take great risk to protect others, that we cannot share more about the event at this time. We continue to be engaged in extraordinarily sensitive work around the world.
Any evidence showing that the group was invited in and that no one was beaten would surely place So in grave danger with Pyongyang. Moreover, it appears that the Washington Post’s source was not the CCD itself, but an anonymous source at the FBI.
No information about Madrid was shared with any parties with the expectation of any benefit or money in exchange. The organization shared certain information of enormous potential value with the FBI in the United States, under mutually agreed terms of confidentiality. This information was shared voluntarily and on their request, not our own. Those terms appear to have been broken.
The group closes with a warning.
It may take some more months of political theater to realize Pyongyang is once again acting with treachery, and not before the regime emerges with even more capacity for great harm to others. Parties seeking to “out” those in Madrid have painted a target on the backs of those seeking only to protect others; they have chosen to side with Pyongyang’s criminal, totalitarian rulers over their victims.
Conclusion
These recent developments provide us with more questions than answers at this point. At this time we know the identities and nationalities of three of the 10 members of the 22 February raid. None of them were North Korean. It is possible that some of the other individuals were defectors, but as of now, we have no evidence to support that theory.
It also appears that the group is engaged in damage control on their website and are attempting to shift the narrative away from their illegal activity at the detriment of the North Koreans employed in the Madrid embassy. I believe this is a miscalculation for a group claiming to be working towards the freedom of North Koreans. The group acknowledges that they accept the risks of their actions, yet they are endangering the people they claim to protect with this statement. Should anything happen to the employees of the Madrid embassy, to include So Yun Sok, the fault will lie squarely with the CCD.
