Despite international sanctions, a notorious North Korean military goods producer continues its global operations and is even broadening its range of products. This shadowy entity is part of a larger clandestine syndicate used by the regime of Kim Jong Un to distribute armaments overseas and acquire elements for domestic military endeavors. Following a veto from Russia in the Security Council, North Korea appears to be pondering a substantial expansion of these operations.
The entity in question, Global Communications Co., or Glocom, has fallen under the scrutiny of the United Nations and various Western governments since 2016. Glocom’s activities include selling high-tech military communication equipment, missile parts, and command-and-control systems. To this day, its website is operational, regularly updated, and recently it has even added a new item: a telemetry device for missiles.
In a press release, Glocom credited the insights gleaned from the Ukraine conflict as instrumental in their progress of a new data transmitter device. The company explains that this new piece of technology can be deployed on diverse platforms such as fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, sea vessels, among others. The regime of North Korea has possibly hundreds of similar operations across the globe, circumventing global sanctions as they continue their relentless pursuit of weapons of mass destruction to fortify Kim’s regime.
Glocom first came into existence in 1996 in Singapore, linked to an establishment called Pan Systems. Pan Systems later went on to open an office in Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea. When the global community imposed sanctions in 2007, Pan Systems severed ties with its North Korean branch, maintaining it had withdrawn all its operations from the country.
Despite Glocom’s alleged base in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian authorities assert that the company has never conducted operational activities within their jurisdiction. Historically, Malaysia had relatively cordial relations with North Korea, and several DPRK nationals and front companies had set their base in Malaysia. Included among them was MKP, a company engaged in construction and hospital management activities.
However, over recent years, Malaysia has toughened its stance against North Korean activities within its territory. When the United Nations sought information regarding Glocom’s front companies operating in Malaysia, the company’s fate hung in the balance. Its online presence was briefly erased and references to it were wiped off the internet.
Yet, in a surprising turn of events, Glocom made a resurgence, boasting an updated product catalog. The firm has been a regular participant in trade expos across Southeast Asia since 2006. They successfully sold a range of products to nations like Eritrea, Syria, and Ethiopia, with the most recent sale to the latter happening in 2022.
However, the magnitude of Glocom’s operations might be more substantial than what is reported. Many of their transactions may have gone unnoticed due to North Korea’s intricate system of shipping and payment networks, designed to muddle the origins of merchandise and the final destinations of payment.
With the recent shift in the geopolitical landscape driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a new path seems to have opened for North Korean armament vendors. Owing to their status as global outcasts, North Korea and Russia have developed a mutual closeness over the years. North Korean state corporations are often charged with self-sustenance and revenue generation, even if it means overlooking the cost.
The evolving ‘strategic partnership’ between Moscow and Pyongyang could provide a timely opportunity for these profit-driven state enterprises. This alliance further solidifies North Korea’s position in clandestinely distributing its military wares across the globe despite numerous sanctions.
Regardless of the imposed sanctions and international pressure, North Korean entities led by Glocom seem undeterred. They continue to innovate, expand, and operate, providing technological advancement to the hermit kingdom’s military systems. And despite the clandestine nature of their work, the entities openly display and sell their products on their websites.
Such resilience showcased by Glocom and similar entities raises serious questions about the efficacy of current sanctions and regulatory measures. Hindered by international sanctions, the clandestine operations of North Korean companies are continuously evolving and finding new channels to keep their activities going.
Deciphering these convoluted operations becomes an even more formidable task with the expansion of their operations overseas. Keeping track of such stealthy operations that continuously adapt to avoid detection is a daunting task, raising the stakes in global security issues.
The peculiar trajectory of Glocom serves as both a cautionary tale and an opportunity to reassess international approaches. It underscores the limitations of unilateral approaches and highlights the importance of international cooperation in tackling military proliferation from rogue states.
The intricate web spun by North Korea through entities like Glocom is indicative of their perseverance to sustain and grow their military power. Despite the challenges faced, they have not only persevered but have also demonstrated a remarkable aptitude to adapt and exploit loopholes in the system.
As the geopolitical landscape continues to shift, it remains to be seen how North Korea, emboldened by its strategic partnerships, leverages the current situation. One thing is clear though, the operations of clandestine entities like Glocom and their continued survival amidst international scrutiny truly reflect the resilience and adaptability of the hermit kingdom’s covert dealings.
North Korean Military Supplier Glocom Undeterred by Sanctions appeared first on Real News Now.
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