‘N. Korea obtaining nuke tech through embassy in Germany’

BERLIN: Germany’s domestic intelligence agency chief has revealed North Korea has been acquiring equipment and technology for its nuclear and weapons programmes through its embassy here.

BfV head Hans-Georg Maassen said: “We have noticed that so many procurement activities have taken place from the embassy.

“From our point of view, they were for the missile programme but also partly for the nuclear programme,” Maassen said in an interview with public television channel ARD, to be aired today. Extracts of the interview were published on Saturday.

Although the exact nature of the technology was not specified, the intelligence chief said they would have civilian and military uses.

“When we see such things, we stop them. But we cannot guarantee that we spot and block each attempt,” he said.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency obtained clues on the technology procurements in 2016 and last year.

In 2014, it said a North Korean diplomat attempted to obtain equipment used in the development of chemical weapons.

The German accusations came after the publication on Friday of a United Nations report that said North Korea was flouting sanctions by exporting coal, iron, steel and other banned commodities, earning nearly US$200 million (RM780 million) last year.

UN experts also found evidence of military cooperation by North Korea to develop Syria’s chemical weapons and to provide Myanmar with ballistic missiles.