Interesting spy drama involving U.S., Spain, and DPRK coming out of Madrid

[TCROW]

First, there was an attack at the North Korean embassy in Madrid on 22 Feb. El Pais published this piece on 13 Mar: https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/03/13/inenglish/1552464196_279320.html

Investigators from the Spanish police and National Intelligence Center (CNI) have linked an attack on the North Korean embassy in Madrid on February 22 to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Sources believe the goal of the attack embassy was to get information on the former North Korean ambassador to Spain
At least two of the 10 assailants who broke into the embassy and interrogated diplomatic staff have been identified and have connections to the US intelligence agency. The CIA has denied any involvement but government sources say their response was “unconvincing.”

And then this follow-up in the WaPo:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...4208a4-c451-4886-b608-f5ac1f182d3d_story.html

Trump, who began his presidency by threatening the annihilation of Kim and his country, has shifted to effusive praise for the young leader as he tries to persuade him to give up his nuclear program. But in the aftermath of the two leaders’ failed summit in Hanoi last month, tensions have reemerged, with North Korea’s vice foreign minister threatening Friday to suspend the denuclearization talks.

Any hint of U.S. involvement in an assault on a diplomatic compound could have derailed the talks, a prospect of which the CIA would likely be mindful. “Infiltrating a North Korean embassy days before the nuclear summit would throw that all into jeopardy,” said Sue Mi Terry, a former Korea analyst at the CIA. “This is not something the CIA would undertake.”

The agency declined to comment.

Realistically and logically, it doesn't make a lot of sense for the CIA to be involved in this. The risks are high. At the same time, there's a lot to be said for "hiding in plain sight". Run this operation now precisely because the world would think we'd be dumb to be doing this now. But if this were even CIA-funded, this is of course what you do when the Spanish intelligence services call you out publicly -- run propaganda in the press. This is kind of the bread and butter of the CIA, and with the "un-named sources" and "people familiar with the planning", it doesn't mean much on its own in terms of journalistic merit.