Austria’s capital Vienna is thought to be a centre of Kim Jong-un’s intelligence operation in Europe. Western intelligence officials reported high-ranking North Korean officials and espionage agents had passed through Austria to conduct illegal procurement missions and intelligence operations. An annual intelligence report from Austria said North Korean “intelligence actors operate both in Austria and against Austrian interests”.
The report said these operations were conducted through local business networks and allowed for access to the European Union and multinational organizations.
According to a UN report, the Austrian capital’s North Korean embassy is used for “illicit activities for generating illegal revenues”.
This is also true of North Korean embassies in other nations.
Vienna is also thought to be a smuggling hub for Pyongyang’s illicit narcotics and weapons operations.
The North Korean regime is using Vienna as a gateway to Europe for its espionage outfit, according to separate analysis by Bloomberg.
European and US intelligence officials told them North Korea has planted ten state security agents within the EU.
One high-level espionage agent operates regularly out of Vienna, they said.
One of the main occupations of these North Korean agents is to monitor the reclusive regime’s own diplomatic staff in European capitals.
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The tram Kim Jong-un used to attend a Korean summit in 2018 was Austrian built and the Glock pistols the regime use are manufactured in the country.
North Korea’s operations in Austria and elsewhere in Europe have grown more imperative for Kim as his country struggles under sanctions.
North Korea’s economy is plummeting because of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic.
The regime’s trade with China, its financial life-line, shrank 73 percent through September and is on course to plunge 80 percent by the end of the year.
Kim Jong-un has hinted at his nation’s financial woes by telling party leaders the country “faced unexpected and inevitable challenges”.
The Austrian Interior Ministry said they were unable to respond to comments about North Korean agents operating within the nation’s borders.