N.K. intelligence bureau engaged in arms trade via Malaysia

N.K. intelligence bureau engaged in arms trade via Malaysia. February. 27, 2017 07:10. by Sung-Ha Joo zsh75@donga.com.

The North Korean Intelligence Bureau are found to have established a disguised company in Malaysia and engaged in weapons trafficking overseas. If Malaysia severs diplomatic ties with North Korea in the wake of Pyongyang’s assassination of Kim Jong Nam, the North Korean regime will likely be dealt with a severe blow in secretive overseas arms sales.

The United Nations panel of experts that monitors implementation of U.N. Security Council sanctions against the North said, “North Korea is exporting items banned for export through disguised companies overseas by constantly accessing international financial networks.” A 100-plus page report submitted recently to the U.N. Security Council suggests that a company under North Korea’s Intelligence Bureau was caught while exporting to Eritrea in Africa by air 45 boxes containing military communication equipment through a disguised company that the bureau had established in Malaysia in July last year. Circumstantial evidence reportedly also suggests the company has had branches in China and Singapore and engaged in trade with African countries.

Upon acquiring the report, media outlets including Reuters reported on Saturday that the report presents in details that the North Korean regime has engaged in trading of weapons and other banned items through highly trained agents, while dodging sanctions. The North’s arms trafficking has been caught several times last year as well, with the Egyptian government forfeiting 30,000 portable rocket bombs and a large amount of iron ore from a North Korean vessel in August last year.

Malaysia offers optimum conditions for North Korea to establish a disguised company overseas. The South Asian country holds a visa waiver program with North Korea, and North Korean agents can conveniently bring weapons samples with them and meet with buyers. The North picked Malaysia as the site for its terror attack on Kim Jong Nam because it was easy for the attackers to receive assistance since Pyongyang has many camouflaged bases run by its Intelligence Bureau and agents there.