Spies, Diplomats and Deceit: Exploring the persistent role of diplomatic missions in North Korea’s WMD proliferation and arms trafficking networks

North Korea frequently uses diplomatic missions, diplomats and intelligence
officers in its Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) proliferation and arms
trafficking networks. The paper places the use of these assets in historical
context, provides a basic typology of their role, and considers why they have
featured in North Korea’s networks. The paper identifies a number of trends
surrounding the use of North Korean missions – including the types and
locations of missions featuring in specific types of proliferation and arms
dealing activities, the prominence of larger missions and use of third country
and regional hubs. It argues that the persistence of these assets in the DPRK’s
networks is largely a result of convenience and diplomatic immunity. The
paper concludes by recommending further action to counter these assets
while arguing that the phenomenon will continue to be a challenging feature
of North Korea’s proliferation and arms trading activities.