North Korea smuggled nuclear weapons equipment from Spain: Report | NK News
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January 18, 2025

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North Korea smuggled nuclear weapons equipment from Spain: Report

Falsified customs codes enabled vacuum furnace to be shipped through Mexico, South Africa and China, US think tank says

North Korea acquired a vacuum furnace suitable for nuclear weapons production from Spain by smuggling it across multiple continents, according to a U.S. think tank, raising concerns about Pyongyang’s ability to violate sanctions by misidentifying goods.

In a case dating back to 2022, a dual-purpose vacuum furnace that could be used for uranium melting ended up reaching North Korea from Spain through Mexico, South Africa and China, the Institute for Science and International Security wrote in a report on Wednesday.

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