[14] During this time, Free Joseon "remained in full control" of the embassy and its occupants, even after the escape. A man suspected of involvement in a mysterious dissident group’s February raid on North Korea’s Embassy in Madrid has been arrested in Los Angeles by U.S. authorities. The Cheollima Civil Defense organization committed to overthrowing North Korea… [20] She described the alleged raiders as commandos. North Korea urged Sunday a probe into an attack on its embassy in Madrid last month allegedly carried out by a dissident group, AFP reported, citing official KCNA news agency. [21], The identities and nationalities of the Free Joseon members were called "particularly sensitive" in light of the delicate relations between the US and North Korea at the time. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The 10 people who allegedly raided the North Korean Embassy in Madrid last month belong to a mysterious dissident organization that styles itself as a government-in-exile dedicated to toppling the ruling Kim family dynasty in North Korea. [8] The Guardia Civil and the CNI carried out parallel investigations, each focusing on different theories. North Korea Calls Raid at Its Embassy in Spain a ‘Terrorist Attack’ The North Korean Embassy in Madrid. MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 27: A placard at the entrance to the North Korean Embassy reads 'Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the Kingdom of Spain' on March 27, 2019 in Madrid… [2] They collected most of the embassy's electronic equipment, including computers, mobile telephones, hard drives[14] and pen drives. If you can improve it further, please do so. Last month, an armed group attacked embassy … "A grave terrorist attack occurred on 22 February, where an armed group assaulted the DPRK Embassy in Spain […] [10] A spokeswoman for the South Korean embassy stated that "we do not know anything, we can not say anything else, we heard about the assault by the press, the police did not come here". The Spanish authorities' investigations were kept secret for the first month; when they released their findings—including the names of the suspected perpetrators—they were criticised for possibly endangering the named peoples' lives. [10], Sources whom the Washington Post described as "familiar with the incident"[2] denied the involvement of intelligence agencies, however, saying they would have been unwilling to involve themselves in such a high-profile incident at a critical juncture in US–DPRK relations. The respective governments made no public comment on the incident until Spanish daily newspaper El País reported that at least two of the perpetrators had links to the CIA. [23] Obtaining private information on Kim Hyok-chol,[21]who has been described as "a natural target" for those interested in the DPRK's nuclear program,[24] and information on North Korea's re-armament program[22] may have been the purpose of the attack. This operation has exposed a group which was once in the shadows and put it firmly in a legal spotlight where it may not want to be. [citation needed] This was more out of political necessity, as North Korea competed with the South Korea for diplomatic recognition. The embassy of the Republic of Korea in Madrid is located at Calle González Amigó, 15 and can be contacted by telephone on 91 353 2000 as well as by email embspain.adm@mofa.go.kr. Chang. ", "Group seeking to overthrow Kim behind North Korea embassy raid in Spain: Washington Post", "U.S. Government Had Nothing to Do With Raid at North Korea's Madrid Embassy: State Department", "North Korea calls Madrid embassy raid 'grave terrorist attack,' demands investigation", "Spain investigates alleged attack on North Korean embassy in Madrid", "Police believe 10 men with imitation firearms assaulted North Korean embassy", "Asalto a la embajada de Corea: Policía y CNI sospechan del servicio secreto de EEUU", "CIA implicated in attack on North Korean embassy in Madrid", "La Policía encontró un arsenal en la embajada de Corea del Norte", "A shadowy group trying to overthrow Kim Jong Un allegedly raided a North Korean embassy in broad daylight", "Mystery group linked to North Korean embassy break-in says "major event" coming", "What to make of a mysterious break-in at the North Korean embassy in Madrid", "Spain Investigates Possible Attack at North Korean Embassy", "Free Joseon handed over stolen data to FBI", "Spain not satisfied with CIA answers on embassy attack", "Spain says leader of North Korea embassy raid contacted FBI", "A tale of daring, violence and intrigue from a North Korea embassy", "Joseon Youth previously recruiting "field agents," with positions open to 16-34 year olds", "Was North Korea's vital 'transformation computer' taken in raid on Madrid embassy? This article about a North Korean building or structure is a stub. A former U.S. Marine accused of stealing electronics from the North Korean embassy in Madrid in a robbery of the diplomatic compound was ordered … In February 2001 Spain and North Korea established diplomatic relations. [11] The compound is in the middle of a patch of open land that has remained undeveloped because it assists natural drainage for the area. The Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Madrid is the diplomatic mission of North Korea to Spain. A view of North Korea's embassy in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. The political group Free Joseon, which is opposed to the incumbent Kim Jong-un government of North Korea, is alleged to have attacked and raided the embassy, while the group maintains that they were invited in to facilitate a high-level defection. North Korea: Group behind embassy 'raid' in Madrid held staff hostage, court documents show. The Spanish privately briefed the media that they suspected but could not prove Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) involvement because the attack was professional in its precision. The others had already been invited in when I arrived. [2] For the Free Jeoson group, securing such top-secret information would "enhance their own status". [15], The US authorities issued an arrest warrant for Adrian Hong on 9 April 2019 while Christopher Ahn, one of perpetrators, was arrested on 18 April that year. [2], The incident lasted for about five hours; it began at 16:34 CET and had ended by 21:40. [13] Around an hour into the alleged raid,[2] at about 5 pm,[20] she escaped from the compound by jumping from the window,[8] injuring herself. [10], On Friday, 22 February 2019,[12] Adrian Hong Chang[note 1] asked to see the commercial attaché Yun Suk So, who was the embassy's highest ranking diplomat in residence[16] and with whom Chang claimed to have previous acquaintance. [6] Common criminality was excluded as a motive for the incident, which was described by investigators as having the hallmarks of a cell[8] in the attack's "perfectly coordinated"[6] military precision. North Korean Embassy in Madrid incident has been listed as one of the Social sciences and society good articles under the good article criteria. It is alleged that a staffer's panic around the plot being discovered precipitated the botched defection effort. The Cheollima Civil Defense said in its statement that revealing the identity of its members could put them in danger. A Spanish national police car is seen outside the North Korean Embassy in Madrid on Feb. 28. ", "North Korea says Madrid embassy raid was 'grave terror attack, "What happened last month at the North Korean Embassy in Spain? On February 22, I approached the front gate of the North Korean embassy in Madrid. The Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Madrid is the diplomatic mission of North Korea to Spain. CIA 'linked' to North Korea embassy break-in: Two members of gang that entered building in Madrid, tied up staff and stole computers, 'are connected to US intelligence agency' The group also stated that an explanatory statement would be published, but, according to, Thon-ho was North Korea's ambassador to the, Raid on the North Korean embassy in Madrid, Singapore summit between North Korea (DPRK) and the United States, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/11/23/the-underground-movement-trying-to-topple-the-north-korean-regime, "Did the CIA Orchestrate an Attack on the North Korean Embassy in Spain? The raid represents the most ambitious operation to date for an obscure organization that seeks to undermine the North Korean regime and encourage mass defections. [17] US news sources reported that the information received by the FBI from an anonymous ex-intelligence officer was "pretty significant". [21] Investigators said the gang must have been responsible for lowering the power and dimming the street lights in the road at the front of the embassy; other security systems around the building were also found to have been neutralised. Adrian Hong, who allegedly led an attack on North Korea's embassy in Madrid, is a longtime US-based advocate of regime change in Pyongyang whose sources of financial support are murky. Free Joseon has denied allegations that this incident was a break-in raid of the compound, and accusations of being directed by foreign intelligence services. [3] Free Joseon is alleged to be composed primarily of North Korean defectors. “The world is reporting on the attack on the North Korean embassy in Madrid, but North Korea has been keeping quiet over the incident for a month," Mr Thae said in his blog. [7] An incident is alleged to have taken place at the door, although early suggestions a death had occurred were unfounded. [13], On 14 March, El Mundo reported that at about midnight on 22 February, Spanish police had surrounded the embassy compound and blocked all of the approaches. [2] Diplomatic law forbids police from entering the premises without authorisation from the head of the mission, which was not to be gained, so they kept watch outside[13] and set up a security perimeter.