German intel chief: North Korea acquiring weapons tech through Berlin embassy
Germany's intelligence chief said in a new interview that North Korea is using its embassy in Berlin to obtain technology for its weapons program.
"We determined that from there [the North Korean embassy in Berlin] weapons procurement took place, in our view, with an eye toward the missile program and in part also the nuclear program," Hans-Georg Maassen told German broadcaster ARD.
CNN, of which ARD is an affiliate, first reported his comments in English.
Massen said that German authorities suspect portions of Pyongyang's weapons program were "acquired through shadow buyers or shadow markets abroad, which they then bought in Germany."
"If we find such things, we stop it, but we cannot guarantee that this can be prevented in all cases," Massen said, according to a press release cited by CNN.
North Korea also reportedly attempted to obtain a monitor that measures gas emissions when chemical weapons are produced.
Relations between North Korea and the global community have continued to deteriorate over the past year after the country launched a series of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The United Nations Security Council has slapped sanctions on North Korea for the launches.
Relations between Pyongyang and South Korea, however, appear to have improved temporarily ahead of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea this month.
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