North Korea demands the US extradition of one of the assailants of its Embassy in Madrid in 2019

The North Korean authorities ask the Government of Spain to make a positive effort for the prompt resolution of the case."

MADRID, 4 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The North Korean Embassy in Spain has asked the United States Government to extradite one of those responsible for the attack on the diplomatic headquarters in Madrid in February 2019, in which a group of men stole several computers and hard drives from the office.

Specifically, North Korea has requested the extradition of ex-marine Christopher Ahn, a US citizen of North Korean descent who lives in the United States, and who is under house arrest awaiting a decision on his extradition to Spain to bring him to trial.

"After the incident, the (Spanish) government requested, under the extradition agreement with the United States, to arrest and hand over criminals who have fled to the US. However, the US has not intensified investigations into US criminals involved in this case, nor has he handed over Christopher Ahn, whom he 'arrested' simply for keeping the forms," ​​reads the statement from the North Korean Embassy collected by the KCNA agency.

Ann, who served in the US Marine Corps as Deputy Chief of Intelligence and Operations, was arrested in Los Angeles in April 2019, but after paying a bail of 1.3 million dollars (1.19 million euros) , his house arrest was decreed, with a tracking bracelet so that he does not leave the country.

In 2022, a United States judge authorized the extradition to Spain but asked a higher judicial body to paralyze it, considering that, as detailed in a 52-page letter to which Europa Press had access, although to the extent of its powers He can only approve the order, he considers that Ann's life is in danger and that he could be assassinated in Spanish territory.

In its statement, the North Korean Embassy has accused the United States of "trying to build public opinion that Christopher Ann has been 'judged' to be extradited, but cannot be fulfilled once the Secretary of State opposes the sentence, citing the 'safety of a United States citizen' as a reason".

"The US assertion that diplomats from hostile countries are excluded from the exclusive rights and privileges of diplomats is a 'gangster' style violation of international law," they added.

North Korea ended the statement with a call to the Government of Spain to "make a positive effort for the prompt resolution of the case under the principle of independence and impartiality."

On February 22, 2019, a group of citizens of various nationalities and North Korean descent entered the North Korean Embassy in Madrid with the intention of stealing documents and information from the Asian country.

According to the investigation headed by the judge of the National Court José de la Mata, the leader of the gang would be Adrian Hong Chang, a Mexican citizen residing in the United States, who met at the Embassy weeks before the assault with the 'number one ' of the North Korean diplomatic representation in Spain, the charge d'affaires of the delegation Yun Sok So.

According to statements by Yun Sok So, during the meeting Adrian Hong Chang used a false name and talked about business issues, without arousing suspicion. On February 22, the assailants appeared at the compound, where the business manager also lives with his wife and son, and tied up several of the workers.

The North Korean diplomat affirmed that he received several blows and was locked in the basement of the building, where allegedly the assailants would have asked him to defect from North Korea, something that he says he refused to do.

Ultimately, the assailants, some of whom have not yet been identified, stole several computers and hard drives and fled the Embassy to Portugal, from where they flew to the United States. After his arrest, the US authorities delivered the stolen material to the North Korean Embassy in Spain.

The investigation suggests that this theft of information could have something to do with the meeting that was scheduled just five days later between the then US president, Donald Trump, and his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong Un, in Vietnam.

North Korea has accused US intelligence services of masterminding the assault, with the aim of obtaining as much information as possible about their country before the meeting.

The suspects in the assault are members of the dissident group calling itself Cheollima Civil Defense (CCD), also known as Free Joseon, which seeks to end the leadership of the current North Korean president.