Spanish court names shadowy group in North Korea embassy raid
Secretive anti-Kim Jong-un group says members' lives have been put in danger by authorities
Seoul — A shadowy group seeking to overthrow North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been thrust into the international spotlight after a Spanish court investigating a break-in at the North Korean embassy in Madrid named apparent members as suspects. Cheollima Civil Defense, also known as Free Joseon, first went public in 2017, when it said it was protecting the family of Kim Jong-un’s half brother, Kim Jong-nam, who was murdered in a Malaysian airport. Spanish authorities unsealed court documents on Tuesday accusing at least 10 individuals of storming the embassy, restraining and beating up some staff members and holding them hostage for hours before fleeing with stolen computers and hard drives. Such an action would be one of the most militant operations ever carried out by activists opposed to North Korea’s government. “Parties seeking to ‘out’ those in Madrid have painted a target on the backs of those seeking only to protect others,” Cheollima Civil Defense said in a website post, ...
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