The arrest of Christopher Ahn in the US based upon a request from Spain for extradition was the number one story on today's Channel A News Top Ten program. The arrest and the reported return of items stolen from the embassy in Madrid by the Free Joseon group was regarded as a confusing situation that required some explanation.
It doesn't actually seem all that mysterious or confusing to those familiar with cold war era spy plots depicted in novels or movies. If one considers the moniker "Oswaldo Trump," the implicit message there seems to be to keep on the right cold war path. Ironically, Victor Cha's latest opinion, in The National Interest Magazine, on relations with North Korea exemplifies the greatest fear inside the national security establishment, that somehow after the debacle arranged by Bolton and Pompeo at Hanoi, a nuclear agreement might still emerge and result in downsizing of US military presence in the far east. The other symbolic aspect of the term "Oswaldo" is the notion of the sacrificial lamb, or scapegoat in these skull and dagger capers. One of the Channel A analysts belabored the obvious when he said the stolen digital data from the embassy was already in US possession and described the return thereof, by the FBI, as a symbolic gesture in terms of compliance with international law. Further, the same is true of Ahn's arrest. That the US authorities will continue to search for the other members of the group is the intention his arrest is meant to convey to the international community.
Earlier commentary here referred to the popular expression "burn notice" made popular in the television series of the same name, about a former US intelligence agent who free lances in south Florida and who takes on private clients in the interest of justice and has to maneuver his way around the authorities. According to the Channel A News allegations, Christopher Ahn has been arrested upon Spain's request for extradition, after serving the Free Joseon cause by guiding Kim Han Sol to safety and participating in the Madrid mission. The Channel A analysts used the concept of cutting off the tail of an organization to present the image of compliance with international law. Another expression used was "protect the vital organs." According to the Channel A program, Adrian Hong avoided arrest when his dwelling was searched.
Kim Jong Bong, a national security expert in South Korea, felt that the extradition arrest would serve to mitigate any international dispute at this point. At the same time he expressed the opinion that Ahn's extradition could be delayed for as long as three years and during that time, the situation as it exists at present would be resolved one way or another.
Incidentally, Channel A News over the weekend reported that a high level envoy from the North Korean foreign ministry sent to Vladivostok in advance of Kim Jong Un's summit with Vladimir Putin, some days ago, applied for political asylum in Belarus, and has defected.
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