by Uzi Eilam
“We set out on this path following information that Dan and his team obtained from the surveillance system. We had to get going quickly, and had no time for detailed, orderly planning. The Israeli Embassy in Hanoi came to our aid, and we also received essential help from the CIA’s representatives in Vietnam.” Gideon looked up from the page he was holding to glance at Deutsch. “Although every effort was made, we did not arrive in time to join the cruise ship that Nimer and the attendees of his tunnel summit had boarded. Today we know that Nimer had received advance information on our team, and therefore, we had to sail on another ship in order to get close to them.”
“We have been conducting an ongoing cyber battle with Iran, and it’s obvious to us that North Korean hackers are the ones dictating their moves,” Dan stepped in. “That’s how I think they detected our team. This sort of cyber warfare will occupy us more and more in the future. I believe strongly,” he concluded, “that we will need more resources in terms of personnel and Israeli-American cooperation in order to not fall behind. For now, the most important challenge is tracking the ever-changing identities of this Nimer, and his unpredictable movements from one arena to the next.”
“There are also positive aspects to this operation,” Gideon continued in a more confident tone, “including information on methods of defending against tunnel detection systems, developed by North Korea. We know about the general direction they’re taking, but the details still are not clear to us. This remains a high-priority topic as far as we are concerned.”
“That’s a very important topic for the United States as well,” Deutsch interrupted Gideon. “For years now, we have been concerned about the drug tunnels at the Mexican border. There is a good chance that our collaboration will increase, and that the U.S, will remove the confidentiality barriers that impede coordinated activity.”
“It’s obvious to all of us that North Korea is emerging as a dominant force in strengthening terrorist elements in our region,” Noam said in a clear voice. The room was utterly silent, and all eyes turned to her. “They are cooperating with Iran, which is supporting Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as Assad’s regime in Syria. We’ve witnessed their support regarding missile technology in the past; at any given moment, we are running into the cyber-shield that North Korea is providing to our enemies, and now they are providing defense against tunnel detection, another significant strategic component.
“Dr. Ben Ari —” Noam avoided using the word ‘Dad,’ “— mentioned the partial information regarding the secret method concerning the tunnels; sooner or later, Iran and its terrorist sidekicks will obtain all of it. And finally, let’s not forget the nuclear threat and the unholy alliance between Iran and North Korea in that regard. This connection has become even more threatening due to Nimer’s activity on behalf of the forces of evil…”
“If we accept Noam’s assessments as realistic, what do you suggest as the next stage, Gideon? How do we stop Nimer?”
The door of the conference room opened suddenly, and Itzik from MID entered the room, obviously excited. “Nimer is back in Teheran again,” he told them, “and there’s information, still partial at this stage, about the Pakistani Abdul Qadeer Khan taking part in meetings with Nimer. This is an indication that the topic of centrifuges is on the agenda again, possibly not only for Iran, since I saw an item of information related to North Korea.”
“Noam is a hundred percent correct in regard to North Korea’s role in the cycle of terror, particularly its strategic aspects,” Gideon reminded them once more, taking care to avoid returning to the topic of Nimer in response to Nahari’s previous question. “We have to strengthen our teams here in Israel, as well as to ask Dr. Deutsch,” he said as he turned to Deutsch with a look of encouragement, “to prod the CIA and the NSA into pitching in, in an unprecedented way, and to help us.”
“Gideon, I’ll take it upon myself to increase the scope of the two American agencies’ involvement in our topics,” Deutsch responded. “The subject of the tunnels might prove a more appropriate entry point, but Iran and North Korea are still at the top of the United States’ priority list, especially in regard to nuclear threats.”
“The connection we just heard about between the Pakistani Dr. Qadeer Khan and Nimer, as well as the possibility that North Korea might be involved here too, reinforces the need to intercept Nimer,” Noam dared to venture, trying to spare her father from having to respond to Nahari’s question regarding Nimer. “Nimer has an Achilles’ heel in the form of his son and sister, in their home in the Shatila refugee camp near Beirut. That, Mr. Nahari, is where we need to seek a solution.” The thundering silence within the conference room was the strongest indication of the general agreement with Noam’s conclusion.
Chapter 38
North Korean airline Air Koryo’s Antonov plane began its descent, revealing the capital city Pyongyang to the passengers’ eyes, along with all its massive monuments commemorating the leaders who must be vocally admired, as Nimer had repeatedly been instructed to do. Dr. Qadeer Khan expressed his gratitude for the successful landing of the flimsy Russian-made plane, which had surely seen better days. After Nimer (under his identity as Dr. Samir Nuri) agreed, recalling the sigh of relief he had felt after his previous landing in Pyongyang, Qadeer Khan went on to criticize North Korea’s insistence on running a national airline despite the American and European boycott that prevented them from using Western aircraft. Their ability to successfully operate their uranium-enrichment centrifuge array was just as flimsy as the plane, Qadeer Khan claimed passionately. Nimer remained silent, thinking it inappropriate to participate in the Pakistani scientist’s barrage of insults. Having already gotten a sense of the man’s greedy tendencies, Nimer surmised that his criticism was rooted in a dispute over the monetary fee that the North Koreans could not or would not grant him.
As the plane taxied toward the terminal, Dr. Qadeer Khan had time to thank Dr. Nuri for his part in transferring the funding for his mission from the Revolutionary Guard. Nimer, propelled by the highly emotional drive to avenge the murder of his loved ones, could not understand the immense importance that the Pakistani scientist attributed to money. Does he not subscribe to any ideology at all? he wondered.
“Welcome to Pyongyang,” a pretty, slim young woman, her coal-black hair pulled back into a knot at the top of her head, greeted them by the jet bridge. “Come with me to the limousine waiting for you, and don’t worry about dealing with your passports and baggage. It’ll all be taken care of and delivered to your rooms at the Koryo Hotel. I’m Dr. Soon Mei from the Hospitality Department of the Research and Development Administration, headed by General Lee Hong Jik. The VIP floor, which I’m sure you remember from your previous visits, Dr. Nuri, will provide you with excellent service,” Dr. Soon Mei noted. “However, if you need anything, just say the word.”
“Thank you, Soon Mei,” Nimer responded emotionally. He had not forgotten their first meeting. The young North Korean woman’s gestures of tilting her head as she listened and sweeping back her hair reminded him of his wife. “I know the Koryo Hotel and remember it fondly, and I believe Dr. Qadeer Khan has also had the pleasure of staying there before. Is there anything we should know? When and where will the meetings take place?”
“Don’t worry, Dr. Nuri. Here are the files we prepared for you, with a specific schedule for each of you. The files also include up-to-date information about what is happening in the country, and at the lovely sites our Supreme Leaders have bestowed upon us. Dr. Nuri, General Lee Hong Jik has asked to meet you as soon as possible, and so after you get settled in your hotel room, I’ll escort you to his office. As for you, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan,” the energetic young woman continued without pause, “you can rest, and your meetings will begin tomorrow morning.”
Driving through the streets of the capital city of Pyongyang caused Nimer to recall his first visit in North Korea with Dr. Peter Thompson. The Canadian scientist had alr
eady recognized the Lebanese scientist’s talents, and was happy to mentor his ambitious colleague. North Korea had been in the midst of its long-range missile project but was having difficulties coordinating the information it received from Russia with the information arriving from China. Nimer had learned much from Dr. Thompson, while also earning personal esteem and respect from the technological division of North Korea’s defense agencies.
“Welcome, Dr. Nuri,” the tall, athletic general roared, nearly shattering Nuri’s hand with his ferocious handshake. “Thank you for agreeing to come here so quickly. This is a one-on-one meeting.”
“I’m honored to continue assisting you,” Nimer replied once they were on their own. “I promised General Soleimani that I would do all I can to strengthen your defense systems.”
Nimer knew about the general’s unique status with North Korea’s Supreme Leader. Lee Hong Jik had a background in engineering in addition to a reputation for cruelty and for his rigid conduct toward his subordinates. The general was also well known for his success in marketing weapon systems that provided funds for the country’s dwindling coffers.
“We have not forgotten your help when you came here with Dr. Thompson, manager of SRC, and how you helped us find our way out of the fog of confusion caused by the clashing of Russian and Chinese technology. Our current obstacle concerns the warheads of the strategic missiles…”
“What exactly is the problem?” Nimer ventured to ask. “And what is the weight limit?”
“You’ll hear all the details tomorrow, Dr. Nuri,” the general attempted to employ restraint when replying. “Our problems stem from our difficulty in decreasing the weight of the nuclear warheads that we have developed. It also relates to the problems discovered at the uranium enrichment plan. If we don’t have a sufficient supply of enriched uranium, we won’t be able to achieve the low warhead weight we need.”
“Well, General, sir, that’s why Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guard, took care to recruit the best person available when it comes to the topic of enrichment, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, who came here with me in order to analyze the issues and provide advice. He’s solved many problems for us at the Natanz enrichment plant, and there is no reason that he should not be able to do the same for you as well. I myself was involved in dealing with some malfunctions in the enrichment process in Iran, including a cyberattack that I helped resolve. I’ll join some of the meetings along with Dr. Qadeer Khan,” Nimer promised.
“That’s great, Dr. Nuri. That seems promising to me; you better be able to overcome the malfunctions,” the general confirmed, unable to avoid a threatening insinuation. “Is there any way we can help you?” he switched tack. “I received a brief message from Soleimani, but he didn’t go into details, allowing me to understand that you can provide specifics.”
“Ahh… Thanks for bringing it up, General Hong Jik. It’s about the tunnels…”
“You mean the methods of protecting against tunnel detection? I heard about it from our people who took part in the meeting in Vietnam with you.”
“Indeed. We were impressed by the brilliant idea, but your people were not at liberty to provide us with details on how this mechanism works. Our Supreme Leader asked us to convey to you that protecting the tunnels is very important to Hezbollah in Lebanon and to Hamas in Gaza, and therefore, to Iran as well. The Supreme Leader expects the request to be honored, and emphasizes that it would be a significant contribution to Iran’s status in the region.” Nimer held his breath and looked with concern at the general, who closed his eyes and furrowed his brow without making a sound.
“I understand the importance of protecting the tunnels in your region. We categorize this topic as a classified secret due to its strategic importance. For that reason, we have to receive the Leader’s approval. I will try to raise the subject with him as early as today, and I’ll let you know if we receive authorization. But take into account, Dr. Nuri, that in order to receive this authorization, I will recommend to the Leader that the secret be shared solely with you, and passed on to your Supreme Leader. As an immediate solution to the problems you have presented,” the general added after pausing briefly to think, “I’ll recommend to our leader that we send technological engineering crews, who will install the defense systems in the tunnels most important to Hezbollah and Hamas.”
Nimer was pleased with the positive intentions he was hearing from the general. He knew that the general was close to North Korea’s Supreme Leader, and assessed that the Leader would agree to the request, in the manner proposed by the general. Nimer was pleased, as well, with the proposed interim solution of an emergency installation of protective measures in several tunnels that were deemed important, with the help of North Korean crews.
The compartmentalization of secrets and the increased responsibility I’m personally tasked with bearing is flattering on the one hand and troubling on the other due to the weight of the responsibility I’ll be dealing with, he worried. I know I’ll have to handle the leaders of the Revolutionary Guard, who may accuse me of sticking my finger into diplomatic pies in order to accrue power. They likely will not believe my claims that the decision was truly made solely by the leader of North Korea.
“Thank you, General. We’d be happy to hear of a positive resolution on the subject of the tunnels. As for the problem of the heavy warheads, sir, I’ll do all I can to assist your people tomorrow.”
“We have faith in you, Dr. Nuri. But before we conclude this meeting and I let you go back to your hotel and rest in preparation for tomorrow, there’s one more important topic…” The general paused briefly and leafed through a file lying in front of him.
“I’m sure you’ve heard of the program to nurture talented young people excelling in mathematics and computer science. Many students who have successfully passed the screening are accepted to the university named after our late leader, the Father of the Republic, Kim Il-sung. The most brilliant, creative programmers are sent to Moranbong University in order to complete their training and work for us as expert hackers.”
“Yes, General, I have heard about this exciting project; I wondered how you first thought of establishing it.”
“In 1996, in a speech given at a convention for military commanders, Leader Kim Jong-il predicted that all future wars will be computer wars, and ordered us to prepare for it. At the time, I was a colonel, commanding a fighter brigade stationed on the border with South Korea. We received this directive as a binding command,” the general explained, “and the project was soon launched. There were skeptics among us as well,” he continued, “who didn’t believe that this is the form future wars would take. Today, however, there are no more doubts. The president of Moranbong University asked me to invite you to visit this unique project…”
“I would love to see these talented young people with my own eyes, and get an impression of their curriculum,” Nimer replied, attempting to stifle his sigh of relief that this was the request that had raised his apprehension. “Is there anything else I should know?”
“Yes, Dr. Nuri. The president of the university has heard of you, and asked that you conduct a conversation with the young students. He said the conversation should provide them with a broad picture of where technology is heading. The president claims that these young people’s eyes need to be opened, that they’re too focused on computer science, and that you need to show them there’s a whole technological world out there and that it is important that they be exposed to it. You can do it,” the general half-asked, half-determined, in a way that left Nimer no room for debate.
“Okay, General, I’ll prepare the presentation that the president of the university requested. I’ll need just one thing…”
“Anything you request,” the general promptly replied.
“The young students’ curriculum in this project will help me better focus the discussion…”
“Dr. Soon Mei will provide you wi
th the full curriculum before the end of the day,” the general assured him.
Chapter 39
“So, what is happening to us?” Gideon began the morning meeting with Dan, Deutsch, Noam and the three members of the Talpiot team. “We missed out on monitoring the end of the tunnel expert meeting in Vietnam, and now we’re once again looking for Nimer, who has managed to disappear completely?”
“Apparently, we were victim to a sophisticated cyberattack by North Korea. It took us a while to become aware of the fact that it was an attack. We were late in deciphering a communication regarding a short visit by the Pakistani Dr. Abdul Qareem Khan in Teheran,” Dan replied, not trying to conceal his frustration.
“Nahari asked to see me urgently, and I have no news today…”
“The safest thing would be to intercept Nimer during one of his ‘homecoming’ visits to Beirut. We’ve witnessed on several occasions that Hezbollah’s watch over the sister and son isn’t as tight when Nimer comes to stay in his home,” Itzik said.
“That’s an important point! I’ll update Nahari and consult with him about this.”
Gideon found Nahari and his aide Binyamin conversing, their expressions solemn, and Nahari wordlessly gestured to Gideon to join them.
“What’s going on with our geniuses?” Nahari grumbled. “What’s the explanation for the delay in tracking the tunnel experts? And where is Nimer roaming presently? Have you thought about how to stop him?”
“That’s exactly what we were thinking about in response to the latest information that we have picked up. When Nimer comes for ‘home leave’ in Beirut, he spends a few hours in his home with his sister and his son Hassan…”
