NEWS: North Korea Accused of Increasing Drug Trafficking

North Korea has been accused of using Drug Trafficking as a major source of revenue by US administration officials. North Korea has a large trade deficit and is suffering decreased missiles exports believed due to the international initiative to prevent weapons of mass destruction. It is believed highly likely but not certain that North Korea is producing over 40 tons of opium annually with both methamphetamine and heroin manufactured in the country by a state directed conspiracy.



Secretary of State Mr Robert Charles has pointed out discrepancies between North Koreas annual exports of US$650 million and the import figure of US$1 billion. He has stated that fifty percent of the imports are paid for by non legitimate, illegal sources most likely directly tied to drugs.

The revenue raised is also believed to be used to develop ballistic missiles and top North Korean officials are accused of using government assets including military type patrol boats to aid them in the criminal activity.

Two North Korean officials were arrested last June in Egypt over delivery of 150000 Clonazipam tablets and two diplomats working in the Bulgarian Embassy were arrested in Turkey with over half a million Captagon tablets which were believed destined for the Arab markets. The synthetic aphrodisiac had a street value of over 7 million dollars.

A defector has told officials that opium and amphetamines were manufactured in North Korea by an order from the government. Similiar reports have been confirmed through other sources.



Related News Links:
www.channelnewsasia.com
fpc.state.gov

[edit on 12-3-2005 by Mayet]

[edit on 12-3-2005 by Mayet]

This should not be a surprise to anyone, least of all the US.

It is interesting that they (US) are pushing this now. Strategically, it seems as if the US is further alienating the DPRK, while offering olive branches to Iran. Perhaps that is a sign of America's priorities?

Your analysis is incomplete to say the least. NK has a leader that acts as if he is out of a comic book. THe world has shown remarkable restraint in indulging Kim and his behavior that being said:

"US says North Korea need not completely disarm before reaping benefits"

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said that North Korea need not completely dismantle its nuclear weapons arsenal before receiving benefits under an aid-for-disarmament proposal offered to the Stalinist state.

I don't think anyone is asking DPRK to completely disarm ... and only then will the United States and other members of the six-party process give them benefits," senior State Department official Evens Revere said Friday.

"That's not the explanation we provided to the DPRK," he said, referring to Pyongyang's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The carrot and the stick

[edit on 3/12/05 by FredT]

One side of the issue that is underlying is the fact that unlike most drug traffickers who are apathetic twoards the end consumer, they are actively in intense intolerance and hatred of the society and people they are selling to.

This is a case where anything including diseases can be put in the drug and introduced to our population not unlike Hepatitis or Aids. A new superbug or chemical causing some dastardly thing would then spread like wildfire throughout western society showing no quarter.




[edit on 12-3-2005 by Mayet]

I will say it again: USA government need to take wind out of their sails and legalise the stuff and assign official production zones near the mexican border.

Considering that drugs will come into the country ANYWAY, you might as well monopolise it, tax it and prevent it becoming a source of revenue for your adversaries. Another advantage that you also free up a lot of money that is currently spend on the somewhat ineffective war against drugs and a whole bunch of crimes directly/indirectly related to it.


Sell it way below the current marketprice in sealed bags with RFID tags, to confirm its officially blessd by God and the United States and arrest anybody for using FDA unapproved medicine.


[edit on 12-3-2005 by Countermeasures]

In a perfect world, your idea would happen but there is no way it will happen I don't think. Around my area police turn a blind eye to the meth and eccies but come down hard on alcohol. They prefer everyone to be happy and loving each other rather than getting drunk and picking fights.

No, Countermeasure i don't think that would be a good idea.

It would send the wrong message, you can't just legalise a crime because you can't control it.

Law and order must always be maintained in a civilized society.

Where ever there is law and order there will be open doors for the abuse of the laws and abuse by the ones controlling the laws.

How do you define a civilised society? I see things all over the world in society today that I would not call civilised and many of them stem directly from having laws and order placed upon humanity. Law and order means to be not free.

It's a balance act.

Would you rather live in a society with no Laws?