It began when an unknown man from Denmark approached me with a proposition.
This is him in his tiny apartment in the outskirts of Copenhagen.
If this was a piece of fiction,
no-one would believe that he would be meeting
with North Korean arms dealers in Africa...
You can walk in here no problem.
...Or going to the North Korean embassy in Sweden
to pick up secret documents.
If something happened, embassy does know nothing about this.
Exactly.
But this is no fiction.
Everything you are about to see is real,
and has been going on for more than ten years.
This is him aged 14, somewhere in Denmark.
He is celebrating his birthday.
Among the guests are children who grew up
in the communist dictatorship East Germany.
Many years later, as a grown man, he will claim that
befriending these kids and learning about the horrors
of a totalitarian regime made him decide to infiltrate and expose
the most brutal dictatorship of all...
North Korea.
It's a nice explanation, if true, but exactly why he chose to place himself
in mortal danger is also beside the point.
What only matters here is that he is a mole.
In the end, I had to hire an expert to help me sort it out.
Annie Machon is a contentious figure in the intelligence world,
but this does not concern me.
I am only interested in her skills in debriefing agents.
So, Annie, the mole arrived last night?
And soon he's ready for you?
Do you have concerns?
Maybe... we should discuss that after you have met the mole.
Hi, Ulrich. I'm Annie.
- Hi, Annie. Nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you, too.
I used to work for the British Security Service,
otherwise known as MI5, and part of my job as an intelligence officer
was to debrief agents.
So the film team has asked me in to debrief you
about your life over the last ten years.
Yes.
Can you tell me a little bit more about him? His background?
You know, if he would rob a bank,
you would not be able to describe him.
- He blends in. - He blends in.
Perfect.
So, how did you get interested in North Korea?
Oh, it's a long story.
It is a long story, so I will speed it up.
Back in 2006, as a journalist from Denmark, I went to North Korea
and shot a documentary called The Red Chapel.
The regime in Pyongyang really hated my film,
and because of that, I can never travel back to North Korea.
Seen from a western point of view, the film has its moments,
but it does not offer up the smoking gun,
the irrefutable proof that North Korea is an evil
and criminal enterprise.
Ever since, I have been on a quest to prove these points,
yet being forever banned from the Chamber of Secrets.
But back in Denmark, the man who I prefer to call the mole saw my film,
and somehow it gave him the idea that he could travel
to North Korea in my place.
Why not? Just go, and...
Then I...
...wrote an e-mail to Mads.
Approximately ten years ago, out of nowhere, he wrote and asked
if I would be interested in doing a film about him
infiltrating the Danish North Korean Friendship Association.
So-- I mean, what happened?
Can you talk me through exactly the first steps you took in this,
and the sort of thought process you were going through?
- You mean with the Korean Friendship...? - Yes.
I found the Danish Friendship Association, and the chairman, Anders Kristensen.
He invited me to the first public meeting three weeks later.
And he was the only person in the room when I came up, -
- trying to put up a North Korean flag.
And I went like I normally do, go and say hello, shake hands.
I had such a... You know, very...
It was not even a handshake, it was very like the hands slipped away.
OK, is this a man or...?
- A jellyfish? - Yes.
He was quite fast to tell people that this is a new member.
North Korea yesterday at 11:57 local time carried out their third nuclear bomb test.
The blast was significantly more powerful than -
- the previous tests from 2006 and 2009.
I told him it could be of interest if it would evolve to something
of international importance,
because the Danish North Korean Friendship Association in itself
is a fairly depressing group of people.
He said, "Please keep me posted if it's interesting,"
and I was like, "Okay."
I also told him, "I will never be able to pay you any money,"
so that is not of importance for him,
and then he just kept on going.
The mole went down the rabbit hole and discovered a bizarre world
of Danish senior citizens who are true friends of North Korea.
Slowly but surely, the mole advanced in the hierarchy
and became a member of the board,
working under chairman Anders Kristensen,
a die-hard communist.
Here you have him back in his heyday, meeting with
the founder of North Korea, Eternal President Kim Il-sung,
grandfather of the current ruler, Kim Jong-un.
You can hang it up now.
All the time, the mole was filming, the excuse being that he was
making movies for YouTube about his work as a board member.
So, how did things progress for you once you were a member,
and on the board?
Well, my biggest wish was to visit North Korea, of course, -
- and to come there, you need to be a part of an Association.
Ulrich, who is filming, is a member of the board.
He is making a film about the association's work.
He will also join our trip to Korea, where we will travel in about one week.
When we arrive, we take a group picture there.
For the newspaper.
- Is it clear? - Yeah.
Ok.
The mole went to North Korea,
and the North Koreans took a liking to him.
His main contact person in North Korea was a man named Kang,
who works for the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
- Everything under control? - Yeah, yeah.
Always in Korea, everything is in control.
Kang is a key person in this tale of deceit and intrigue.
We trust you and we really treat you as friends.
- Yes. - But...
You have to understand that there are places which are sensitive...
And maybe the spies are interested in this kind of places.
These are military places.
So all the Korean people are very alert...
Hello, hello...
Hello... Hi... Nice meeting you.
Everywhere he went in North Korea, the mole was filming.
Of course, he also brought his camera when he was awarded a medal,
recognising his work for the regime.
- Okay, congratulations. - Thank you.
So when did things really start to move?
When I was in North Korea in 2012, -
- I met a Spanish person named Alejandro Cao de Bends.
Could you confirm that this is a photograph of him?
- That's him. - Yeah?
He's the president of the Korean Friendship Association — KFA.
And according to himself there are hundreds of thousands of members around the world.
Amongst the friends of the regime in Pyongyang,
Alejandro Cao de Benos is the biggest friend.
Compared to a small group
such as the Danish North Korean Friendship Association,
the Korean Friendship Association is the international lodge
for people who consider North Korea to be heaven on Earth.
Alejandro Cao de Benos is the founder
of the Korean Friendship Association
and is known around the world as the gatekeeper of North Korea.
As such, Alejandro Cao de Benos was my tour guide and access ticket
when I travelled to North Korea back in 2006.
Here, we are posing for a North Korean newspaper.
Spending time with him, I found it hard to understand why Alejandro,
who was born in Spain and lives in Spain,
has chosen a life as a cheerleader for North Korea.
According to the UN, North Korea starves, abuses
and kills its own citizens on a daily basis,
but Alejandro Cao de Benos considers all that to be fake news.
You are aware of the reports from the UN and Amnesty International, which are very tough?
Yes, because they are being used as propaganda tools.
I also discovered that his preferred foods are French pastry and candies,
which is, I guess, the perfect diet for a supervillain.
Do you think Alejandro's dangerous?
Yes, I do. Especially when he is in North Korea.
Because he has the power to react to things he doesn't like.
He is a small dictator in his own universe.
"A bill to the progressive peoples of the World."
Alejandro Cao de Bends, -
- can we say that you are the only Westerner who easily enters North Korea?
And who represents North Korea? The only Westerner in the world?
Yes the first and only Westerner.
You're a Spanish aristocrat
representing the North Korean regime. What's in it for you?
Well, it's a long story of 30 years, but although I come from an aristocratic family, -
- I'm just the son of a worker. So I wanted to contribute -
- to the construction of a socialist country.
I created the Korean Friendship Association, so I could facilitate -
- the meeting and the bridge between North Korea and the rest of the countries in the world.
Good evening, Mr. Cao de Bends.
North Korea just wants to guarantee its survival and future.
The only way to do that is developing a nuclear defense.
There will be no world without Korea.
If North Korea is attacked nuclearly by the United States, -
- the world will end as we know it.
Hail comrade Kim Il-sung!
So you meet him in Pyongyang, and then you go back to Europe,
- and then your second meeting is when you go to Spain. - Yeah.
Hello.
We are here in Barcelona, in front of Hotel Astoria, -
- and we just had a wonderful meeting with our colleague Ulrich, -
- discussing matters of interest.
Can you tell me a little bit about that meeting?
It was in a small hotel in the outskirts of Barcelona, -
- and we talked like two or three hours...
...of course a lot about North Korea, and...
I just had a great meeting with the Spanish comrade, Alejandro Cao de Bends.
Then he starts telling me about Anders.
He is well informed about what Anders has done throughout the years.
It is clear that he does not evolve, nor does he bring forth any new efforts.
I agree with his assertion.
So what did Alejandro want from you?
He then wanted me to be the "official delegate" -
- at the KFA in Denmark.
That is why I quietly start my own KFA Denmark.
Where I of course am appointed by Alejandro.
I will be one of his closest.
Also internationally, he wants me to establish some contacts.
And so the mole began channelling his way through
the Korean Friendship Association, hoping to find the secrets
of this global club for friends of Pyongyang.
Long live our Supreme Commander Kim Jong-un.
The last speech: Ulrich Larsen.
Comrade Ulrich, I think you have a speech on behalf of KFA Denmark?
My name is Ulrich Larsen, and I'm the new branch of KFA in Denmark.
And I'm really happy to be here and to speak at this annual meeting.
Jonas, can you film us here, while we say hi?
- Yes, fine. - Just don't cover...
- Full body. - Don't cover the portraits.
Alejandro, good to see you again. Very pleased to be here. Always, you know.
Advised by me, the mole had a professional cameraman
enrolled in KFA Denmark as his personal assistant.
Is Alejandro aware of the personal aspects of your life?
Yeah.
And I think that's one of the reasons he wants me, too; -
- because he thinks I have a lot of time to be the North Korean man in Scandinavia.
A lot of time because, in his real life, the mole is a retired chef
who lives on welfare subsidies from the government
because of some sort of chronic disease
which prevents him from working.
He is married with children and resides in the suburbs
of Copenhagen, living a seemingly normal life.
As such, he is the best mole you could ever want.
It's a long fight against the Danish media; -
- whenever they have the chance to print imperialistic propaganda...
Actually, many of the persons in the KFA are unemployed.
...Leader Kim Jong-Il always thought the best and...
The Eternal President Kim Il-sung...
...Kim Jong-il as the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army...
...Leader Kim Il-sung had to...
I think they find something unique with him, -
- because he makes them feel welcome.
- Everyone loves a cause. - Exactly.
Let us become more proud and grow more strong, -
- until we achieve the Final Victory! Thank you!
I participated in annual meetings in the KFA around Europe.
I'm calling Ulrich Larsen, our official delegate in Denmark.
Ulrich, please show your medal.
Then, two years after, I was the KFA delegate of Scandinavia. So he gave me four countries.
That's quite a quick leap up.
- It went quite fast, yes.
So what were your responsibilities in that?
He of course wanted me to react to the media, if they...
You know, all the lies, in... Seen with North Korean eyes.
This is Ulrich out of Copenhagen. Here's what he had to say.
In North Korea, you have many good things that you never see.
I just came back here a month ago, and I was surprised to see -
- how bright the future looks for the North Koreans.
So, Andre, he's really picking up on that theme
that Dermot had about a smear against North Korea.
Jonas he is making small video clips, and we'll put up one on Facebook which you all can share.
Do you happen to know if he's told his wife what he was doing?
I don't think so.
When you are in North Korea, -
- people smell bad.
Not bad in that way, but their perfumes are rather...
...they smell a lot of alcohol.
And I was lucky to get one of these from my father.
So I made it into a tradition, when I'm out with them, -
- in this context, -
- I spray myself before the meetings, so the smell gives me some sort of -
- signal that I'm now under North Korea's banner.
What did your wife say when you went home smelling of that strange scent?
She is told another story.
I couldn't tell her the truth, because then she wouldn't let me go.
- It's Sasha. - Hi.
- Hi.
- What's up? - We are done for today.
I'm tired, it's been a long day of meetings -
- with a lot of funny information.
Yeah, OK.
The kids are happy?
Yes, we have been to Tivoli Gardens today.
Okay.
They were having a good time.
Good.
- Yes, yes. - I'll call you later.
Talk to you tomorrow?
- Okay. - That's fine.
- Goodbye. - Bye.
Why does Alejandro like the mole? What does he see in the mole?
He wants me to find people who would like to invest money in North Korea.
Alejandro Cao de Benos begins putting pressure on the mole.
He wants him to source for businessmen who will invest
in North Korea.
So the main part, really, is raising business and investment.
In a debriefing filmed in Denmark back in 2013,
the mole was already talking about KFA president Alejandro Cao de Benos
wanting him to find investors.
He started talking about three investment projects in North Korea.
- What kind? - He doesn't say.
He's looking for capital from 50.000 to 1 million Euro.
But investing in North Korea is tricky business
because of the tough UN sanctions
levelled against the cash-starved regime.
The new sanctions include a ban on exports of
North Korean goods such as machinery and electrical equipment.
Since no-one in their right mind would throw money at North Korea,
I decided to invent a fake investor in order for the mole to find out
what exactly Alejandro Cao de Benos had in mind.
I forgot to mention there is another person involved in this.
That person is Mr. James.
His real name is Jim,
and he was chosen by me to perform the role as Mr. James,
a man of international mystery.
In real life, Jim is a former member of the French Foreign Legion
who later went on to become a jet-set cocaine pusher in Copenhagen.
In the end, he was caught and served eight years in jail,
and now works and lives as a legitimate businessman.
In my mind, he was tailor-made for extreme role-playing.
So I had the mole invite Alejandro to come to Oslo in Norway
for meeting with the man of his dreams,
Mr. James, a dapper Scandinavian oil billionaire.
So how did you set it up?
At that moment, I had known James for five hours.
I met him in the airport in the morning, and we...
We didn't even sit together in the plane.
The plan was that I should introduce Alejandro to James, -
- and James to Alejandro.
- And then just sit back and watch? - Yes, exactly.
What kind of investments into North Korea
would President Alejandro Cao de Benos have on offer for Mr. James?
Go.
Whew! I hope it goes well.
- You're used to it, I'm not. - Of course.
Whew! I'm nervous.
- Two seconds, come in! - Hi, thanks.
I just need to take this.
- Sit. - OK. Thank you.
Sorry for that. OK. A pleasure to meet you.
Thank you for coming.
This is Alejandro, the President of KFA.
I'm a special lead of the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, -
- in charge of international relations. - Thank you very much.
I would have loved to give you my card, but my suitcase is still in Kuala Lumpur...
- But we will send it to you by mail. - No problem.
Sorry, just to interrupt,
but what sort of cover story had you developed for James?
I mean, Alejandro presumably would have done some checking
on the background of James.
I think he really just wanted things to happen, and he wasn't...
He was thinking about having something for the Koreans, -
- so he could reach an even higher level in North Korea.
So he didn't need to know the name of this oil billionaire?
- No, I just told him his name was James. - Huh!
I work for an investment family.
Until now, our investments have been in oil, gas, -
- weapons, metal, pharmaceuticals, -
- but our minimum investment is fifty million Euros...
- Five-zero? - Yes, five-zero.
...because otherwise, the revenue is not interesting.
I have contacts up to Marshall Kim Jong-un,
- so, if necessary, I can report directly to the maximal authority -
- to our Great Leader Kim Jong-un - in the country.
We are under very heavy sanctions, as you may know, from the United Nations, -
- especially enforced by the United States.
So we have a parallel way to do things.
We have companies in China, Southeast Asia, Malaysia and other countries, -
- for making all kinds of transactions.
So they follow sanctions in the UN, in front of the TV, but in reality, they just look the other way.
Did he discuss what types of business he would be looking for?
Yeah. And it didn't take -
- many minutes before Alejandro started talking about that -
- they could produce anything in North Korea, -
- which he likes to call the DPR of Korea, or DPRK.
Our advantage is that the DPRK is the only country in the world -
- where we don't need to follow any rules from anyone.
Whatever you do in DPRK, remains in DPRK.
Nobody can touch your accounts, your assets...
Even if you are followed by Interpol, we are not even members of Interpol.
So we can do things that no other country can do.
We are developing things in the pharmaceutical industry -
- which are forbidden in any other country in the world.
A pharmaceutical company in Canada requested me...
...that we produce something in DPRK.
But this "something" is basically the same as methamphetamine.
It's methamphetamine, for the drug market.
So, the issues that...
They sent me the formula, and I checked with our capital, -
- and of course we have all the knowledge to produce even that.
Weapons is actually our main...
But the problem with weapons at the moment is a very complicated subject.
But, weapons! We can build submarine factories, tank factories...
From the first screw of the tank to the last one is made in DPRK.
Missiles. All made in DPRK. We sell our missiles to Iran.
Iran doesn't have our technology.
Iran only has medium-range missiles.
We have intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach any part of the world. So...
OK, OK. That one we definitely have to... I'm just taking notes.
I can facilitate you direct contacts with any kind of our state companies, -
- or any department or ministry in the country.
This is no problem for me. Anytime, I can issue the visas.
I can prepare at all levels, with all our ministers.
So, through me, you are now in direct contact with the country.
Meeting with President Alejandro Cao de Benos in Oslo
gave a whole new perspective on the Korean Friendship Association
because, officially, the KFA is a peaceful organisation
which works to promote North Korean culture, history and values
through its members in more than 30 different countries...
including the official delegate for all of Scandinavia,
the mole.
Was the KFA really being used
as a front for dealing with weapons and drugs from North Korea,
with Alejandro as the spider in the web?
Or was Alejandro Cao de Benos playing us in order to get to
the deep pockets of Mr. James?
And who was Alejandro really?
Simply a buffoonish braggart acting as a useful idiot
for the regime in Pyongyang?
Or was he a highly connected and sophisticated
international criminal?
At last, the mole had found his real mission and true purpose.
Follow the lead of Alejandro Cao de Benos
and see where it takes us.
So, what happened after this meeting?
When Alejandro came back to Spain, he was arrested.
- OK? - For arms dealing.
This is how Alejandro Cao de Bends reacted to our questions in front of the courthouse.
He was arrested yesterday in Tarragona in a police operation against arms trafficking.
I don't talk to the media.
Why?
Because you're a bunch of slanderers.
This is fake! Totally fake!
You're a bunch of slanderers! This is totally fake!
For the first time ever, the brave soldiers of the KFA
would have their annual meeting without their president.
A perfect chance for the mole to rise in the ranks.
I'd like to welcome you all to the 2016 International KFA Conference.
Over the years, our organization has been viciously attacked by reactionaries.
This year's worst attack is towards our president, Alejandro.
The Spanish fascist authorities are not letting him leave the country, -
- restricting his freedom of movement, and -
- accusing him of a crime he had not committed.
Maybe one day, they will understand that we are right, and that they are wrong.
But until then, keep on with the good job, comrades.
Thank you.
If it was not for comrade Alejandro, I would not be standing here today.
I count on him for constantly believing in me, supporting me and guiding me.
In the future, I foresee more people of the West, just like me, -
- will realize that they live inside a broken and evil system.
And so they will open their eyes, and see what I see, -
- a dream which can come true.
Long live our Supreme General Kim Jong-un!
Korea is one! Thank you very much.
Korea is one!
- Hello? - Hello, Alejandro, it's Ulrich.
Whatever I can do to help you and KFA, just let me know, and I'll be there.
Thank you. I trust you.
All your work and your activities.
Not only me, of course, my comrades in Pyongyang, -
- they know we don't have many very close friends like you.
There are only a few which are really close friends of the country.
I feel the same. I love you all in the KFA.
Next, the mole and Mr. James went to Madrid in Spain
to meet with Alejandro Cao de Benos.
Through me, Mr. James had an order ready for North Korean weapons
as well as methamphetamine.
Would the president of the Korean Friendship Association
be open for business,
now that he was being investigated for arms trafficking?
OK, good
Comrade Ulrich!
I can see you. Hello!
So, Alejandro took James entirely on trust, on your recommendation?
We needed to put up a story of how I know James.
And what was that story?
I'm educated as a chef, and...
...I've been making food for some people where James was attending.
And he just asked me if I could cook for him, because he has a lot of parties...
So it was quite easy to get into that.
He's always busy.
I haven't seen him in a long time, only short telephone calls, e-mails...
He doesn't reply.
- Hey, my friend! - Once again.
Good to see you!
Sit down.
I'm continuously followed by different secret services from different countries.
So they retained my passport.
The order of the judge is that I cannot leave Spanish territory.
Because I had weapons, I had machine-guns and guns at home.
And I always liked all kind of weapons.
Who doesn't?!
- So, at this meeting in Madrid... - Yeah?
...Does James give any ideas about why he wants, why he's interested
in buying this sort of materiel?
Well, he likes to sell the weapons to the enemy of Israel, -
- which makes Alejandro quite happy.
Basically, it's the weapons we are interested in.
Hitting Israel is a way to say "Fuck you, USA"
We need to sit down with the right people straight away.
Our army are used to sell finished technology to governments.
So it's going to be complicated to negotiate the sale of whatever; -
- short or medium range missiles, with a private person.
But...
Talking about chemistry and components that you need...
...that's easier. Because...
...we are kind of providing you with technology and experts that you "rent", -
- but we are not selling the finished product.
Ah, OK.
So, OK, that's fine for me.
I can guarantee that you will have the meetings with the right people, -
- and that it is possible to bring those "scientists" overseas.
But, of course, the terms of negotiations is something you would have to arrange.
But actually, you will be received by my closest comrade.
And he knows what you are going to be discussing.
He knows him also, comrade Ulrich, because he is Kang Jum-ju.
Mr. Kang Jum-ju will be waiting for you in the airport and arrange everything, -
- to talk with the right people.
From now on -
- we are on thin ice.
- We have to be very careful. - Yes.
But, that said...
...there's lot of money to be made.
- At this point, he's stuck in Spain-- - Yeah.
...for legal reasons.
But he can organise your trip with James to North Korea.
We agreed to go to North Korea in January 2017.
Going on a secret mission to North Korea
calls for careful planning,
so I had my first in-person meeting with the mole and Mr. James together,
making sure that Mr. James especially
knew the most important rules of the game.
Let's start on a banal level, but gifts are important.
And one of the best gifts in North Korea is Hennessy Cognac.
You should at least bring one bottle each.
Another important thing is: Never to make fun of -
- The Great Leader, The Dear Leader, The Young General.
Never make fun of any of the Kims.
You will be in situations where you feel like making a funny remark.
- Don't go there. - OK.
It's a very militarized culture, and it's a very alcoholized culture.
There is hardly a country in the world where they drink as much as in North Korea.
If you're a bad drinker: someone who loses control when drunk, -
- then you shouldn't go to North Korea.
Never use hidden camera or be tempted to do anything in secret.
The less you try to provoke results, the better. The more they come to you, the better.
I'm not the one buying, they are the ones selling.
Exactly.
- Hi, Jim. I'm Annie. - Pleasure to meet you.
Lovely to meet you, too.
If we can keep the answers as brief as possible
and as precise as possible, that would be appreciated.
Sure.
So, what was your perception of the possible risk at this point?
Yeah, I mean...
As a former criminal, you don't calculate with risk that high...
And...
I think I actually was more worried for Ulrich than for myself, because -
- he was involved - or is involved - in another way than I was; -
-1 was hired in as an actor.
I was also worried for the mole.
Mr. James had been around the block.
He could fend for himself.
But what about the mole?
He was just a retired chef.
So, I took him to see a teacher who could give him a crash course
in what is known as "tradecraft" among spies.
In short, I took him to see Max,
a former CIA agent.
If he makes a mistake, he could find himself
tied up in the centre of town with a blowtorch
as an example for nobody else to do that.
So...
But why trust a former CIA agent
with the identity and secrets of the mole? It's a good question.
Max had been fired from the Central Intelligence Agency
and was not in good standing with the company any more,
which made it safer to trust him.
I'm going to kill you.
Why?
Okay, yep.
Anyway, I was in need of someone who could teach the mole the ropes
before he returned to North Korea.
If somebody's holding a gun on you,
you're not going to expect them to-- take it away.
All right? All you're looking for is a split-second edge.
And besides, as the saying goes,
who can you trust these days?
Observation skills.
- What I say, what's common is common... - Yeah.
...and what ain't, ain't.
That means if it's common, that's usual for the area,
Okay, that's normal.
If something stands out, it stands out for a reason,
so you've got to be aware of your surroundings.
You might as well give them your phone and say,
"Here, look at it," because that's how easy it is nowadays.
You have to assume they can read all of your messages.
So, when they look at your emails accounts,
they can go way, way, way, way, way back.
They're going to feel like you betrayed them.
You didn't really believe in... in socialism or communism.
You didn't really believe in North Korea as a place to go.
You didn't really believe in it.
That was all just-- You were a mole.
Be careful that they don't set a trap for you.
So, like, when they walk out of the room and leave papers,
don't touch them, don't go near them.
Then, they can say, "Oh, we knew he was going to go through these."
You don't care about those. Don't even think about messing with that.
I tell you what, you are a hero of mine doing this.
It's very dangerous.
- So, this is the real deal. - Yeah.
- Safe journey. - Thank you, Max.
- Godspeed. - Thank you. Bye.
Bye now.
Right in the middle of these anxieties,
an American university student was arrested in North Korea
was sentenced to hard labour
for stealing a propaganda poster. The Warmbier--
His crime was simply stealing a poster
from his hotel in Pyongyang.
Another American front and centre
in Pyongyang's propaganda parade.
Otto Frederick Warmbier,
a University of Virginia business major,
making a dramatic, emotional confession.
Warmbier's parents issued a statement today--
- Don't take pictures of the soldiers. - OK.
So, can you tell me what happened when you got there?
We were landing in a brand new airport in Pyongyang.
Three steps out of the flight, we were put aside, -
- because I had the camera.
Because of the camera, the officer had to call a higher-ranking officer, -
- to check that out.
When we landed there, -
- two government officials came, -
- took my suitcase off the table...
We went all the way around, -
- and they put me in the VIP lounge, -
- where the Main Man himself sits when he travels.
And then, we'd been waiting five minutes, Kang said: "Do you have your medal on?"
"Show him."
- Is that him? - That is Mr. Kang.
I was taking off my jacket, and he went...
"Sorry! Please! Welcome to North Korea!"
And I took all my equipment, without any check, and walked straight out -
- for a Mercedes Benz waiting to pick us up.
The first evening we had a great dinner with a lot of alcohol.
Cheese!
I went up to my room earlier than James, and Kang then came to my room and asked me:
"Are you sure that this man has all the money that he's talking about?"
So, how did the deal progress once you were there?
Well, in the beginning, it was sightseeing, looking at houses and business centers...
Kang? Could you tell shortly where we are going?
Now we are going to visit a science and technology complex -
- which was inaugurated last year.
I must say, at this point, -
- I didn't see anything close to everything I was promised.
So how long did this, shall we call it a courtship period, last?
Two days. Then it started getting serious.
Two days. Okay.
Suddenly, the third morning, we got picked up.
We were looking at each other: "Is this another sightseeing, or what?"
When we are in the car, he says we're going to meet some people -
- that can sort you out.
All the time we've been in North Korea, we've been driving downtown.
Now we're starting driving outside town, and then, suddenly, we take a left turn.
And now we're not in a place you want to show tourists.
And they drove us outside of Pyongyang, into a slum area.
So the driver parks.
And I'm like: "This doesn't seem right, but..."
I mean: "Nowhere to run, so just focus!"
And they wanted us to go down into a basement.
We walked down these stairs, and it was really creepy.
But then, a big door opened, and we came into this luxury conference room...
...with a big table, a lot of food and...
And suddenly, we are in a really, really nice restaurant.
- Under a basement, in a rotting house. - Yeah.
Were you frightened?
-1 try not to be.
Then we found out we were sitting together with the president from the arms factory.
Is this when this photograph was taken?
-Yes.
So, can you tell me who is who?
This is the president of the arms factory.
This one is the intelligence officer.
His English was really good.
His questions were definitely different from the others', -
- and he kind of started to interrogate me.
And it was at that time I had to come up with a company name, -
- because we did not have a company name at that time.
So he said: "What's your company name?"
So I said: "The one who's taking care of this" -
- "is Taga Group."
And I was like: "Please remember that name!"
Then there was one we referred to as "Stoneface".
Then they surprised us by taking out the catalogue of their weapon systems.
And I was like: "OK!"
They gave me pictures...
...and said: "This is what we can sort you out with."
- Like a sort of menu? - Yeah.
Okay.
And what sort of weapons are we talking about?
All kinds of weapons.
Missiles... Really big missiles.
Tanks...
So this is all on offer?
Yeah, this is what we were just handed over the table.
- Wow! So we've got Scud missiles? - Yeah.
So, you can get five Scud missiles for $14 million.
- Missile launchers. - Yeah.
So we're going up to Scud-E missiles now.
Good God! $25 million.
- 1350 km range...
...that's practically from North Korea to Japan.
Yeah.
And that's a high explosive warhead, and that's thermobaric. Oof!
I mean, that's as close as you can get to a nuke
without it being a nuke.
What's this?
This is the agreement between James...
...and Narae.
- The arms factory? - Yeah.
- All signed and sealed, as well. - Yes.
And what was Ulrich doing during this meeting
when you were signing contracts?
He was filming.
He was allowed to film?!
- This is the funny part, because -
- Ulrich's position is so good that they just thought he filmed for propaganda videos.
- Should I sign the Korean one as well? - Yes.
And where is that?
At this point, you're in a secret underground lair in North Korea,
facilitating the signature of a weapons contract.
What is going through your head at this stage?
Many things. First of all, -
- I've been practically lying for my wife for seven years.
So... I was thinking about that.
And Alejandro is aware of all of this?
- He's aware of everything.
I will soon go to Spain to visit comrade Alejandro, and give him a detailed report -
- about what we have achieved here today together with James.
Cheers!
- And for you! - Cheers! Thank you.
So we agreed on building a factory outside North Korea, -
- that would make weapons and methamphetamine.
And, as is custom for them, -
- they suggest it will definitely be underground.
And did the Koreans have any preferences
when it came to countries, or suggestions?
The first destination that came up, was Namibia, -
- where they had friendly people in the government.
That was taken off the table due to the sanctions.
So, the next country that was put on the table, was Uganda.
So, to sum it up,
you are now a North Korean weapons dealer and broker?
Yes.
Good evening, and it's great to have you with us here
on a Monday night. And we begin with late developments today,
the worsening horror for a mother and father from Ohio.
Their son, who was just returned from North Korea
with severe brain damage, has now died.
Since the moment their son was sentenced
to hard labour for stealing a propaganda poster,
the Warmbiers were fighting until he was released.
The look in his eyes, which I didn't know he was blind at the time,
was absolute horror - horror like he'd seen the devil.
And he had. He was with the devil.
Let's begin by saying "Welcome home".
Thanks a lot.
Back in Copenhagen, I was shocked to discover what my two proxies
had accomplished in Pyongyang.
They had brought real, raw intelligence with them.
As the scholar Andrea Berger writes in her study Target Markets,
very little is known about pricing on North Korean weapons systems,
but here was a fully detailed menu in hard copy.
Mr. James being appointed as a North Korean arms broker
seemed like the figment of a sick mind,
but here also was a signed and sealed contract,
drawn up in English by the North Koreans.
We signed it...
Before Mr. James came along, only a few non-Koreans
had been known to broker weapons for the regime in Pyongyang.
Back in 2011, the British arms dealer Michael Ranger was arrested
for brokering a deal between Azerbaijan and North Korea,
but he was a highly experienced arms dealer in a dangerous game
for experts, let alone amateurs.
Nevertheless, Mr. James and the mole had scored a jackpot.
And I got promoted... I have been given an assignment.
The title is: "Honorary Position of Business Agent for Narae Trading Corporation".
I have to inform my dear friend Alejandro about the promotion.
Because in Korea, we agreed that I would give Alejandro a full report about the visit.
- Is it ready? - All is ready.
What about the camera on my chest, is it fine?
Comrade Alejandro! How are you?
- Welcome to "The Bunker". - Thank you.
Yes, the bunker. Perfect.
It's hot here. We had minus 21 in Pyongyang, when we were there.
Really?
To prepare the mole for his next mission, Alejandro would now provide
guidance on how to operate as a businessman in Uganda.
In Africa, nobody is going to take care of you.
- The life of James is worth 50 US dollars. - OK.
That's what it costs to hire a hitman and cut your throat.
Literally cut your throat.
And don't forget that they are quite strong, -
- because they work all day under the sun.
Taking the bush and everything.
The negro has that thing...
In the moment you don't look at them, they will steal...
...everything from you, even a drop of water.
And they need always to have a person on top of them, telling them what to do.
If not, they'd just sleep or steal. Sleep or steal.
If the white master is not there, they will feel like animals, and destroy everything.
So he needs to be really careful about whom to bring in?
Yes, yes, very careful.
And if one person is to be appointed, it has to be a person willing to die for it.
But what is the idea of...?
The idea is to make the -
- methamphetamine and weapons.
When you're talking about the business, do never use those words again. OK?
I think you should take care.
Suddenly, he just stood up and said he wanted to show me something.
This is a bug detector. It will detect any kind of bugs that you may carry, -
- or that someone may have put on you.
If you have a microphone or something on you, it will make a signal.
- OK? - Ah, OK. Perfect.
- You were mic'd up? - I was mic'd up, yeah.
Try my phone.
Ah, OK.
Here is a signal.
Do you have something RF? Radio Frequency?
I have the car key for my rental car.
I have a small bag on the table. I have my car key in it.
Maybe it's because it takes some signals down?
This is by remote control.
So it was sending a signal to the...
But this is... I sweep it many times. We don't have anything.
Please, do that every time before we come.
So, when you're talking about the business, you have to find two words to talk about two things.
Never use those words that you used before, OK?
You should talk about canned seafood, for example, when referring to something you eat
and when you are talking about the other thing, let's talk about wood handicrafts, made by the native people.
This way, they can never figure out what you're talking about. This kind of messaging is essential.
We are not talking about a small thing. If this goes down, there are many millions going down.
So, also James has to understand, this is not a child's game.
No. I said to him: "Listen..."
To be serious, because it's as easy as this, to do like this to you...
...I can put a microphone. - Yes.
"Hey, hello, welcome to Barcelona!"
And then you have no idea that you are broadcasting information.
It's good, we need that. Especially the good one. The Russian one.
This is just basic.
That's all, no? We discussed all the issues.
What happened next?
I jump in the car, and -
- then I start to feel bad.
I have a lot of pictures on my mind, -
- and I now I just need to get this off, because it did something to me; -
- it was such a close call.
So, just to be fully clear here,
he was fully briefed on the plans to build the secret factory in Uganda?
- Loved the idea. - Okay.
In Uganda, Mr. James would be the playmaker.
Yeah, okay.
And to have it all on camera,
he brought a photographer who was filming
for a covert video about his life as a man of international mystery.
And the mole, he brought his hidden camera.
- Where's the button? - On the side.
Yes, it's red now.
See you.
So, what happens next?
Then, the North Koreans arrived in Kampala.
Hi, you're there! Good to see you again!
Good morning. Nice to see you.
One of them, he was one of the people in the basement, while I was signing.
Is that...?
- Yes, that's the person we named "Stoneface".
And who is he?
That's Mr. Danny, the international arms dealer from North Korea.
Please come in.
You can walk in here, no problem.
Thank you. Thank you.
I think Mr. James will come shortly.
So we can talk a little ourselves.
Earlier this month, North Korea threatened to fire
missiles towards the US territory of Guam.
This provoked the US president into threats of war.
I read in the news that the DPRK had a successful missile test this morning?
Yes.
I don't have any concerns, I just think that president Donald Trump is a crazy man.
What did he say?
North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States.
They will be met with fire and fury
like the world has never seen.
We will continue to launch missiles, until the Americans stop provoking our country.
There you are! Hello.
Nice to see you! Hi. Nice to see you again.
Two seconds. I'll just close here.
The idea was to buy an island -
- and build a weapons factory underground.
So, I've been looking at an island.
This island is perfect. It's in the middle of Victoria Lake.
So if airplanes come down, people on the mainland would not even see them.
Souvenir!
We went there, to check out the island...
How had you found the island in the first place?
Oh...
...Google.
I found a place where you can buy private islands.
I could get this for five million dollars.
This island is a very good idea.
We construct the factory building, and then, after that, -
- we must provide some equipment.
The equipment depends on the products.
You can purchase from us...
First we can, for example, with the missiles.
Or several kind of missiles.
You bring your own aircraft to our country, -
- under the name of humanitarian aid.
You can bring some clothing, some food...
Then we can load all the contracted items, -
- then you pay money to us, and then you fly back.
We can provide you with everything -
- from small ammunition to big missiles.
Electro-warrior items also.
Radar, all the communications systems...
...we can do everything.
So we wanted to go out and see -
- if it could actually be used for the purpose.
And before we went there, the real estate man on it -
- said that he had told the people on the island -
— because people lived on the island —
- that we were there to build a hospital.
So the whole village is there to welcome us.
Ah! Thank you!
We are waiting for someone.
Your sister? Your brother?
What I was saying was to introduce you as a friendly party -
- to the people on the island.
Because we don't want them to know about the transaction between the landlord and us.
And this is why you told them that I was there to build a hospital?
- Yes. - OK. I see.
So I need your cooperation, OK?
OK. Now let us pray.
I bless this people in Jesus' name...
This guy, he said to me: "I have told people on the island" -
- "you're gonna build a hospital". I said: "What?!"
"I don't look like a hospital guy!"
My duty -
- is to remove those people from the land -
- without causing friction.
OK.
And how fast can we have them moved?
Maximum is four months.
- That is included in the price, right? - Yeah.
- So this is where they play football? - Yes.
I think there could be a great landing field here.
- Yes, yes, very much so. - OK. Perfect.
OK, that's good. It's good.
But now the situation... America is watching our country.
The US intelligence agencies should not know about this project.
So, the idea is...
— and this is their idea —
- that we should build a hotel above; -
- some kind of resort, and that can explain why we have a landing ground there.
Everything else will be built underground.
I will show you one on the other side and then we are done,
and then you have an idea of all the things.
Did you get an impression that they had something out of the box,
so they had done this before and had a standard plan,
a standard look for disguising these sort of facilities?
They had worked with other people like this?
Yes, yes, they'd already said that.
”We have the engineers, we have the knowledge..."
It was not a discussion about I should come up with those ideas.
Because, from the beginning, I'm an investor.
"I invest in it; I think it's a good idea", -
- but the architects behind the whole structure were them.
Bye bye.
I was feeling very bad when we left the island.
There lives thousands on this island.
Thousands and thousands they're willing to throw off the island, -
- in four months, if I put down five million dollars.
How can that be done? Was the government involved?
We had a sit-down, -
- established by the broker, -
- with government officials.
I was quite open. I said:
"we want to do something on the island, I cannot tell you what it is," -
- "but we want 100% privacy, we don't want any interference," -
- "and I want that, otherwise we don't want to buy the island."
If this flies, we can move very fast.
We can get the people out of the island.
And we can start doing this.
- Sure. - How does that sound?
That sounds very interesting.
I've been working with the government for the last 15 years.
What is the project about?
Is it going to be a golf resort? A marina?
A health spa?
We want to give back to society. We have CSR obligations...
Then we'll buy some schools or something like that.
We want clearance that we can land planes and take them off from our island.
The aerodrome license can be done, as long as it's part of the investment plan.
This bird will fly.
That's sweet music to our ears.
That's what I do.
Give me an Amen!
Amen, brothers!
We were really crazy as well.
We actually got promised that -
- they could actually -
- have customs protect our island.
Let's pray together.
Heavenly Father, bless our project, bless our ideas. Amen.
Amen!
Thank you.
So, although the true purpose of the project was not
revealed to the Africans,
buying the island in Uganda
and using it for a secret weapons and drug factory
seemed to be right up the alley of the North Koreans,
which was kind of important to prove.
But it did not stop there because, while in Uganda,
the North Korean arms dealer Mr. Danny was ready to take
the joint venture a step further.
Yeah, we can meet in the lobby.
When will you be there?
OK, I look forward to see you. Take care. Bye bye.
You said you had some things you needed to move as well?
Yes, for example, can you can bring our items to Middle East countries?
- This business is with Syria. - Syria?
What kind of items they want there?
- Projectiles. Bombs. - OK.
If you can transport all items from our country to Syria...
You give me a signal and I can go to Beijing and we can meet and discuss what it takes.
North Koreans needing to move armaments to Syria is
actually a very interesting piece of information,
so please allow me to digress a little bit.
Historically, North Korea and Syria have been friends for many years
and the North Koreans were even building a nuclear reactor
in the Syrian desert until the Israelis decided to blow it up.
During the civil war in Syria,
the New York Times published a story about how North Korea was
helping the Syrian regime with its chemical weapons programme.
At the same time, small arms from North Korea have been found
in the hands of fighters from the Islamic State,
but most likely these weapons were stolen from the Syrian army.
So, when the North Korean arms dealer Mr. Danny wants to send bombs
and projectiles to Syria, the end user is probably the Syrian regime.
So what did you say to Danny
when he suggested that you help with the Syria move?
I said yes; I would like to do that.
Then he said: "Then you'll have to go to Beijing" -
Something I still feel bad about is sending Mr. James to Beijing
to meet with North Korean arms dealers.
People who are in the know about the dark side
advised us strongly against it.
Because if the Chinese intelligence service would shine
their lights on Mr. James, it would be another ball game entirely.
But Mr. James is a man who craves action
and I am a film-maker who craves sensation, so he went anyway.
Before I'm going to Beijing, I've been in contact with Mr. Danny, -
- who said he had passed it on to his collaboration partner, -
- and he will take it forward.
Sit down, and, as custom, I've brought you something from Denmark.
One for you, and one for you.
The first day, there's only two gentlemen arriving.
And one of them introduce himself to be the main guy -
- of the weapon industry.
Both men are North Korean.
I know this because sometimes they speak Korean to each other
in the dialect of the North.
Frankly speaking, we're blocked in all directions.
But we're all ready to move forward.
They say 25 workers are ready to be sent to Uganda.
Clearly, the two men are in the know about the island in Uganda, -
- which seems to be a top priority.
If he had bought the island and built the factories, it would be different.
But can they trust Mr. James?
I don't know if Danny has already told you about the business we are doing?
- The weapons, yeah? - Weapons, OK.
He said to me: "We have a collaboration with Syria," -
"But our problem is to give them the armoury."
"Do you think you can help us?"
- Is that correct? - Yes, Syria.
- You have contacts in Syria? - Yeah, yeah.
If you give me a list of the people that you officially cannot contact, -
- then I can contact them, because I can travel here and there, -
- on behalf of you.
May I smoke here? No, outside?
I don't know.
It's OK, I'll go to the toilet.
The toilet is out there.
No, no. It is in there.
Asking for names of clients
and contacts in the world of arms dealing seems to be a show stopper.
He's asking about who our clients are...
He is not someone to trust.
If he has money as he says...
Actually, I was kind of sad when I was in North Korea, it was in January, so...
- Have you been to North Korea? - Yeah.
Have you visited our country?
- When? - In January. I was in Korea. Yeah.
Who invited you?
- Kang. - Mr. Kang?
Yeah.
The second day, we're meeting, then suddenly...
- the one we refer to as "Stoneface" appears.
And what was the power dynamic between these two?
This is the strange thing, because the hierarchy is very difficult.
Good to see you again.
Was the enigmatic Stoneface summoned to Beijing
in order to verify the identity of Mr. James?
He never says a word, he does not even smile,
so we can never know for sure about Stoneface,
but it is safe to say that his appearance made a difference.
We should check everything very carefully...
...even these walls have ears and eyes, you know?
Yeah.
We are looking for the right person -
- who is handling transporation.
For example, this one.
Rifles, guns, air-to-air missiles.
At this moment we have contacted the other country, -
- and they are waiting to buy these ones.
Can you confirm that you buy the island within 2—3 months?
What I will do, is that I will fly down there personally -
- and stay down there until it's bought.
The only reason why I went to Uganda in the first place, -
- was because you told me to.
The head of the ♪♪♪♪♪♪ of Uganda, a lawyer...
...is my close partner.
So if you need, I'll help you.
But please consider, their ways of life...
...and their working style is quite different from you and us.
Today, "yes", drink, "yes" tomorrow, "forgotten"...
- Please, consider it. - OK.
So, when did they contact you again?
It actually went a long time.
More than a year.
My actor, Mr. James, seemed to be taking on a life of his own.
That was a concern.
Another concern was the mole going back to Spain to brief
Alejandro Cao de Benos about the Tourism Project, the code name
chosen for the underground weapons and drugs factory in Uganda.
By now, the mole had been undercover for more than seven years
and paranoia was running high.
So far, no intelligence service had caught onto us,
but, every time we met with Alejandro Cao de Benos,
we had to consider the possibility
that he was being followed by spooks.
At the same time, we also had to consider the risk
that Alejandro would upgrade his counter surveillance
with new devices for discovering microphones.
From now on, the mole would only meet with Alejandro in a hotel
chosen by us with security on standby next door
in case his cover was blown.
Soon Alejandro would spring another surprise on the mole,
but first a piece of nostalgia.
You see, going to North Korea with Alejandro as my tour guide
back in 2006 left a long-lasting impression on me.
Apparently I had also left a long-lasting impression
on Alejandro Cao de Benos
and so had my first documentary about North Korea, The Red Chapel.
The film stars two Danish-Korean comedians who go to Pyongyang
and lampoon the leadership,
which means that I am not Mr. Popular in North Korea any more.
Little pussycat.
Little pussycat on the road...
It's a poem about the independence of the cat, a little pussycat.
- A little pussycat? What's that? - A cat.
- A puss... or with...? - In English you can say pussycat or cat.
It's a cat... Meow. - Meow... Pussy, what does it mean?
Mads Brugger! I still have his passport, you know. Brugger and the other fucker.
First trip, it's by me. They come to me.
They were there more than once?
Yes, they have been there three times before making "The Red Chapel". To North Korea.
Suddenly, I receive a call from Pyongyang:
"Alejandro, you know what happened with "The Red Chapel"?"
"I know nothing! I was not in the meetings."
"I only brought them in the first trip. I don't even know they came second time, third time."
I said: "You know what, you deserve that for not telling me."
"They took advantage of you. They cheat you, they fuck you, and now they are making a fortune."
And if you were with them, you could have stopped them.
Of course! I know sarcasm, I know how they think!
In the moment that they said: "Pussy. Pussycat." -
I will say to him: "I will smash the face of Brugger! And put him in the mine!"
And I will smash his face in North Korea, because you cannot prosecute me, -
- because it's under the laws of the country.
So I will do that! What the fuck!
Anyway, never mind about that.
Sarcasm aside, Alejandro Cao de Benos is a man who thinks big.
During the meeting in Barcelona, Alejandro tells the mole
of an ambitious plan for a triangle deal
involving Mr. James, North Korea and a Jordanian businessman.
This is Hisham Al Dasouki from Jordan.
He wants to provide fuel to North Korea.
And Alejandro gets this wise idea that we can make a "triangle deal"...
Which is...?
Which is that we send the fuel to North Korea, -
- and James gets the payment in arms parts and pharmaceuticals -
- to the island in Uganda.
The general idea is that you can triangle.
And no one will ever know... OK, now I get it.
If the mole could get Mr. James to Spain, Alejandro will introduce him
to his plans for triangular trading.
So we set up the meeting in a yacht in the harbour of Barcelona.
Hello, my friend.
- Long time, no see. - 1 must say that.
- How are you? - I'm good. Be careful!
Good to see you.
You look young, younger and younger.
I'm trying my best.
Normally, I don't drink, but today... Can you make me one of these?
Yes, sure.
- Alejandro? - I have this water, I'm fine.
Bloody Mary is good.
So let's start first with the triangle.
Yes. So, the concept is very easy.
When we were looking for oil, due to the sanctions, -
-1 received the order from Pyongyang, from our government, -
- to look for different sources: Someone willing to sell oil to us, -
- who does not mind the sanctions.
So, this is a deal that our company Narae wanted to do with Mr. Dasouki.
Mr. Kang told me: "Look, we are also doing" -
- "the business, at the same time, with Mr. James."
"So, why don't we make a triangle?"
Instead of you paying to our country, -
- which is a little complicated because of the sanctions, and so on, -
- and the nature of the business, especially.
"So, instead of going direct, why doesn't James pay"...
Like, let's say, you are buying this oil, -
- not the DPRK, although we are the one receiving it, -
- and then, from this amount, it can be deducted from the contract -
- and for the operations that you are going to realize in the tourist business.
- So, we will receive the weapons... - Yes.
...and then we give him money, and then he gives oil.
And he doesn't have any problem with selling oil to North Korea?
Not at all.
So he knows how to get the oil there -
- without getting the boats stopped? - Exactly. Yes.
- So, he's kind of pirate? - Kind of, yeah.
Hmm.
What is your position in all of this?
I'm the person who makes things work, let's say it like that, OK?
Like a person arranging everything at an international level, -
- like a matchmaker, we could say, huh?
We could say that, normally, most things come through me, -
- I'm in the middle of many of the most important transactions of our country.
And I hold positions which I cannot tell you, in our country, -
- at a very high level, in the ministries.
It's a ministry which is over all the other ministries.
So, an agreement like this, you can sign on their behalf?
Sure. Exactly.
And guarantee my security...?
- Yes, exactly. - OK. Let's see.
They just think I will hand over money, -
- and I'm like: "I'm not handing over any money."
"I have met you, I have trust in you, but..." -
"...I want to meet this Mr. Dasouki face to face".
So my two proxies, the mole and Mr James,
went to Jordan to find out if there really is a man named
El Dasouki who wants to triangle with them and North Korea.
Have a nice day.
- Mr. Dasouki? - How are you?
Finally, nice to meet you.
Please come and visit Mr. James.
- Alejandro sends his greetings. - Yes, he sent an e-mail.
OK, yeah. I spoke with him yesterday.
I am happy that we're finally here now.
Alejandro, really — this man, I like him so much.
That's good.
- He is my number one comrade. I love him, too. - He tells me so many things about you.
- He is very... passionate. - Yes. He is a fighter.
Please.
Hello, James.
- Hello. - Hi, Mr. James.
- 1 met a nice man in the reception. - Suddenly it happens.
- Hello. - Welcome, take a seat.
Nice to see you.
Cheers!
Just for me to understand the kind of business you do...
My business now is for two things: chemicals and petroleum, for oil.
I made some connections with some friends in the government.
Good business, good idea, trust — That is all you need.
If you have a bunch of money, all doors are open for you.
So for your share, you pay off the government, so we are safe?
That's not your way, it's my spin. It's my side.
Not your names, not any names.
Not my name also, to be frank with you.
Because I must keep my name clean.
You have a middle man who takes the blame, if there's a problem.
Because getting things to North Korea right now — it's a bit tricky.
Yes.
You have satellites up your ass all the way.
Each time I export to Korea, -
- when I come back, I change the name of the ship.
Because after you go there once, you get blacklisted.
An important thing to do, when you import or export...
...don't sail your ship directly.
There must be a point to stop and change documents, and then go.
If you need, I can help you with that.
Something dangerous,
Like a machine,
I can do this. I know how to do it.
I guess that's the food.
Hello. Please come in.
I just go to the bathroom.
Yeah, sure, sure, sure.
It is out here, right? Yes.
And we decided to meet up the next day -
- for signing the contract.
Nice to see you again, my friend. Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Let's do business.
This is my Russian visa document.
- This is for trading the oil. - OK.
To take it out from Russia, to Jordan, -
- then to Dubai, and from Dubai send it...
So when you go from Vladivostok you go out, international, -
- and you go back to Nampo or something, with another vessel, or just change the name?
Different ways of doing this.
Sometimes, it can go into that boat, my boat, -
- all you like, to North Korea.
Sometimes, you cannot go, -
- you must change in international waters.
Yeah, yeah.
If you're not in a hurry, it takes 30—40 days, -
- because of the long way to go...
Yes, they need to... Exactly.
...to get far away from the controlling systems.
The government of Russia gives you the contracts...
10 thousand? 10 million?
...and you can sail anywhere, it's up to you.
OK, yeah. I understand.
- It's like mafia. - OK. We are the mafia.
They are mafia! And we are the same!
We are the same. Yeah.
Finally.
I also need a picture with Mr. Dasouki for Alejandro.
So was the contract actually signed?
They signed the contract.
For how much?
- I think, at that point...
...it was around 3.2 million US dollars.
- We'll do it soon. - Thank you very much.
Not to be rude, but could I have five minutes alone...?
Yeah.
I'll just take a sip outside.
I'll bring my coffee. I'll come back in five minutes.
So Ulrich leaves the room, but I'm still recording the conversation.
And you can ensure that the government will not interfere?
This is something personal between me and you.
I am working with [...].
He is one of my friends. That's all.
- OK. - OK.
Here, El Dasouki mentions a major Jordanian power broker,
but, due to legal reasons, his name cannot be disclosed.
Next, the mole was asked to go to Sweden
because a package was waiting for him to be picked up
at the North Korean embassy in Stockholm.
Hello, Ri, I'm here.
- How are you? - I'm fine.
The sun is so beautiful today.
So, Kang wrote me.
Yeah, he sent these photos for you to check.
Thank you.
I went to the embassy in Stockholm to pick up some drawings.
What you see here is actually a North Korean design -
- of how we can build our weapons/pharmaceutical factory -
- in Uganda. - Ah. OK.
It looks great! Outside it looks like a resort, yeah?
Exactly. That's why we need...
But inside it looks so smart, you know?
- It's like from a movie. - Yeah.
Like my sort of movie!
This is actually how it will look from above.
- A golf course here? - It could be, yeah.
- That's great. - Yeah.
What about the hotel title?
What are you going to title it?
I know they are going to have some meetings with the investor about all those details now.
Not something that smells like DPRK.
- Exactly. - Yes.
So...
I hope this is going to be successful, just keep it confidential.
Confidential. Of course. Yeah.
If something happens, our embassy knows nothing about this, OK?
Exactly.
Thank you for the ride.
Hello.
This is one of the staff of Mr. James.
He will lead us to the room.
Then, in this tale of intrigue and deception,
a new character made his appearance.
It was Mr. Ju, a North Korean envoy who came to Copenhagen
to do business with Mr. James.
Last time the world met Mr. Ju was on the Australian version
of 60 Minutes, where he acts as a smiling mouthpiece
for the regime in Pyongyang.
We were weak, but now we are strong.
Single-hearted unity, a great leadership, -
- and we have the ICBMs, -
- so I usually say to Donald Trump: "Come, come, come to me."
"I will choke you with my H-bombs."
Wow.
I planned my trip to Denmark in order to expand the tourism market into Scandinavian countries.
And...
What is your connection to our collaboration partners?
I have a close friendship with Mr. Kang for many years.
Mr. Kang asked me to pick up the weapon deals of the Narae Trade Company, -
- to sign the contract. I have the document here.
And also he wants me to be the communicator of "The Tourism Project".
- In Uganda? - Yeah, in Uganda.
The contract stipulates the triangle deal in print:
Oil purchased by Mr. James goes to North Korea, -
- and in return, North Korea sends products and technicians to the island in Uganda, -
- where "tourist goods” will be made.
And here you go. And you have my pen.
Danish tradition. Actually, you have the hotel's pen.
And did Alejandro know about this deal as well?
He was very well aware of it.
- Cheers! - Cheers!
Oooh!
Exactly. Let's try this one.
Now the North Koreans would discover
that Denmark, also, is a very alcoholised country.
Cheers! All in one.
Look at him. Oh, no, no. You have to...
Chin-chin!
So we visited The Little Mermaid, -
- but they were so drunk, I don't think they even remember.
Had Mr. James chosen to honour the contract he signed in Copenhagen,
he would have to wire millions of dollars to El Dasouki
in Jordan as payment for oil to North Korea.
In return, North Korea would deliver manpower and products
to the island of Mr. James and so goes the triangle trade.
- We can triangle. - Exactly.
From his office in Jordan, El Dasouki was now
threatening legal action unless Mr James honoured their contract
and showed him the money.
Meanwhile, the North Korean weapons dealer, Mr. Danny,
who we met in Uganda, was pushing for a meeting with Mr. James
in order to "speed up" the business.
They met in a hotel in Cambodia,
where Mr. James was taken to the next level in the circle of trust.
He gave me a new order list while I was down there.
- So, may I explain... - Yeah.
About the special items business, yes.
It is not a common thing.
OK.
This one, the number 1...
...it's to attack the enemy tanks.
Then number 11, can attack a drone.
It sends a very powerful impulse to the drone...
...and then the drone will... drop.
Like that.
In Cambodia, it became apparent that the sanctions are working.
The North Koreans are desperate to find clients who will buy
their weapons and it seems like Mr James is their big white hope.
Now, in Syria with the IS already defeated, -
- so in this situation, it's very difficult for us to find clients -
- who want to buy some of this military armament.
If you have any clients, we can supply them through you.
If I'm saying: "Ok, listen, guys, we wanna buy a huge amount of weapons",
- we can get that.
And what about the triangulation deal?
Where's that left at the moment?
We have the island. We could start that project tomorrow.
- So this is where you left it? - Yeah.
They still trust you.
Yeah. For now.
But not for long.
The investigation had gone as far as it could,
so Mr. James had to disappear.
Thanks to my intervention, Mr. James went off the grid
and simply vanished, no longer answering his phone nor his emails.
In short, Mr. James became a ghost.
Meanwhile, the mole was taking care of business
as the KFA delegate of Scandinavia.
First, he went to London to protest against the BBC,
together with his comrade in arms,
the British delegate of the Korean Friendship Association,
Mr. Dermot Hodgson.
Hello, everybody, this is Ulrich and Dermot.
We are at the BBC, which is the...
...British Brainwashing Corporation.
The BBC are continuing their lies about People's Korea.
Then the mole went to Spain for his last in-person meeting
with his president, Alejandro Cao de Benos.
Oh! Thank you very much!
You insist, I insist, OK.
Several items were on the agenda.
Dermot, he is British, and I've been in his home.
So frankly speaking, British tend to be quite dirty.
They love dirty, mouldy, rusty things...
It's like, they love it.
And old carpets on the floor.
Not only old carpets, but he enters with the boots full with mud.
Mud! In the house, you know?
But most important was the sudden disappearance of Mr. James.
It's difficult to trust people you don't know. And even people you know. Like James.
Yes, that really made us lose a lot of money, a lot of time...
To you, to me, to Korea...
I feel myself like a big idiot.
Am I the right guy in KFA now?
Because I feel responsible...
No, because we know exactly who you are.
And we know who he is...
I have some meetings with this kind of rich men, I'm used to this kind.
The exception is people like Mr. Dasouki, -
- who is a very rich man, very powerful, very influential... but a very humble person.
James is an opportunistic person, who just wants to push out everyone, without recognising their work.
You have been loyal, even as a servant. More than loyal.
Frankly speaking... I didn't tell you.
The way you treated him and the way he treated you, it was like from servant to the lord.
"Give me a Bloody Mary. What do you want, Alejandro? Then serve me, Mr. Ulrich..."
Of course you are my comrade. I felt so bad, seeing you.
But we are playing a game, so I had to accept that.
I was also playing my games for him.
I know that. We are all playing games.
You know that you must have people that you can fully trust.
Because, if only one goes to the CIA... Only one.
You are fucked forever.
To top it off,
the mole had been chosen as the host of the annual KFA meeting.
All along, as the puppet master, it was I who wrote the speeches for the mole
and now he would deliver his final sermon.
Dear comrades!
The KFA is at war. We are at war!
And we have every right to wage war against our enemies.
Because one person can change the outcome of history.
"But, what about me?", you might ask.
"What have you been doing as a KFA delegate for Scandinavia?"
I will here present you, "The Tourist Project".
Here it is.
Mana, can you take this one down, please?
As I had planned it, the mole would share the fruits
of the top-secret work he had been doing with his mentor Alejandro.
Beautiful hotel with swimming pools and hotel rooms, -
- meeting areas, golf course...
Of course The Mole would only use the coded phrases for methamphetamine and weapons -
- which Alejandro Cao de Bends had taught him in the bunker in Spain.
When referring to something that you eat, it's a seafood, canned seafood.
And when you are talking about the other thing -
- you can talk about for example, let's talk about...
Wood. Wood handicraft.
Wood handicraft, yes.
Made by hand, by the native people.
Yes.
In those rooms here, it will be possible to produce organic seafood or wooden handicrafts.
There's built a road up here.
Which will go up to an airstrip.
So we can fly out our products.
To sell in the world.
You're welcome to come up and take pictures, if you like.
Thank you. I'm sorry for the interruption...
Following the annual KFA meeting,
one member of the Korean Friendship Association
praised the Tourist Project on the message board of the KFA.
Alejandro told the mole to delete everything at once.
Also, a member named Jean Paul left the KFA
because he panicked about spying and hacking.
At the end of this,
I hired the former intelligence officer Annie Machon.
Before she went rogue and became a whistleblower,
she was working for the British security service, the MI5.
Her exploits as a whistleblower have made her controversial,
but that is of no concern to me.
I am only interested in her qualifications as a spy.
Running long-time undercover agents was her line of work,
as was debriefing agents at the end of their missions.
If someone has put ten years of their life into doing something,
and they've been very solitary in what they're doing,
they do need a chance just to tell someone exactly
what they went through.
It's almost like a confessional.
And, of course, you do want to, to reward them at the end of it,
even if it's just with a recognition they can't really tell anyone about,
apart from perhaps their wife or their husband.
But it is that recognition that's very important
when they've been working undercover for so long.
Such as a lavish dinner?
A lavish dinner usually works very well, yes.
And I want to raise a toast to you both for what you have achieved.
I think it's probably the
most impressive private intelligence operation
I've ever heard of.
How are you going to protect these two guys
from any reprisals from the North Koreans?
Regarding Mr. James, he simply refuses to be
you know, protected or advised about security.
Okay.
We have prepared for an after-care programme for the mole,
also taking care of his security.
And his family?
And his family as well.
What I am more concerned about regarding the mole is that
being the mole has been a part of his identity
for more than ten years, you know?
So, what will happen when we bring him in?
Entering any form of secret-type world is very seductive.
I know from personal experience.
And, for those who have been living a double life,
with all the danger and the adrenaline rush and everything,
it is incredibly difficult, often, to go back to mundane reality.
In the long-run, we all must face reality.
So, finally, I went to the suburbs of Copenhagen
to see where the mole lives
and meet with him and his wife.
Yes, but...
Ulrich has something he wants to tell you.
A very long story.
It is a long story,
but let's cut to the ending.
In a way, I'm a bit proud of myself.
And I hope that you can...
...in a way...
...be a bit impressed...
...of what I've tried to achieve.
...to document for the world to see.
I'm simply shaken.
And I think that you are an idiot, -
- because you haven't told me anything.
Yes.
It's lies upon lies.
I think this is fucking hard.
There is something I want to say in defense of Ulrich.
It's...
It's important to say.
Ulrich is one of the bravest people I have ever met.
On an everyday basis you don't see him as brave.
Then it's more like: "Get your act together and do some cleaning."
He has distanced himself a lot from the family.
More and more and more... He is disappearing.
Now it's been going on for ten —eleven years, I don't know...
Yes.
But it has been crazy. It has been crazy for me.
Not being able to tell you anything.
I have often wondered: "What are you thinking?"
I haven't thought so much.
I am thinking more about what will happen now.
When we are at the end of the road.
And what consequences it will have for us as a family...
You will be seated there, and I'll be over here.
The only thing left was an even more difficult conversation.
My heart is beating fast.
- Hello. - Hello Alejandro. I can't see you.
Oh! "Start Video" Ok.
How are you?
Yes fine and you?
Well, I'm fine, so that's nice.
Alejandro, before we get started I have a few things I want to tell you.
Yes.
First of all, why I have been so interested in North Korea.
And also to find out the truth about you.
All our meetings together have actually been filmed.
And I have been acting like a mole.
Because I am making a film, with you.
And I would really much like you to meet the instructor who's been helping me through this movie.
I hope you will answer his questions. So, please meet him here.
Hello Alejandro.
Yes hello.
We meet again.
Yeah.
We are recording this conversation.
And I should inform you that -
- everything is on tape, and we basically know everything.
So this is the end of a very long story.
Alejandro, are you there?
He disconnected.
He raised his hand and pressed the stop button.
When he appeared on screen I was close to running for the toilet.
But when I opened my mouth, -
- then I was kind of back in...
...the role of The Mole.
But yes.
Would you like to be The Mole again?
Not the same way.
Well, you never know.
Great.
Can we watch it?