U.S. Says N. Korea Likely Involved in Drug Trade

[Khephra]

The United States said for the first time on Monday that it believes it is ``highly likely'' North Korea traffics in illegal drugs as a matter of state policy.

The comments in a State Department report are the harshest to date by the Bush administration about suspicions that the Stalinist government of the isolated, impoverished nation directs trade in heroin and methamphetamine for profit.

President Bush has called North Korea part of an ``axis of evil'' along with Iran and pre-war Iraq and his aides accuse Pyongyang of pursuing nuclear weapons that they view as a direct threat to South Korea, a key U.S. ally.

The accusations of official involvement in the drug trade may raise tensions as Washington seeks to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions and they follow U.S. criticism of North Korea's human rights record last week. Nuclear talks in Beijing last week ended only with an agreement for more talks.

more.....................

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-korea-north-usa.html

[Taeger]

1. Uh oh ....

That shit is SCARRY to me.

They don't just "release" information unless it is the means to a political end.

It's scarry because they really CANNOT touch North Korea without consent from China. BTW, guess who processes all the raw opium from Afghanistan ...

... ding, ding, ding, ding ...

You guessed it, it's CHINA!!!!!!!

Sounds to me as if the CIA wants to ramp up their old drug running operations to finance more black ops. Perhaps the Haiti and Venezuela operations cost a little too much ?!?!?!?!?!

I really DO NOT like the idea of Bush getting too chummy with China even if it IS for overthrowing North Korea.

[Khephra]

2. What I hear is the preparations for turning NK into

"Narcoterrorists". That shit scares me even more.

[madrchsod]

3. bullshit

haita was the biggest drop point for the last few years. afgan poppies make their way to europe over the old tried and true trade routes. north korea??? what and where are they selling or trading? and how in the hell could they get the stuff anywhere in the south eastern pacific area? the golden triangle stuff follows the same trade patterns that have been around for years.. what in the hell were they smoking when they thought this up?????

[Chicago Democrat]

4. So was Aristide, and the Taliban, and Ollie North

and Rush Limbaugh and blah, blah, blah....

[BrotherBuzz]

5. Smoke and mirrors...

As much as cash strapped North Korea would love to step up their drug business, I really don't think they have the wherewithal to play with the big league boys. Instead, I strongly believe the BFEE is setting up North Korea to be the patsy when they start dumping the new and improved crop of Afghan Heroin on the west coast of the good 'ole USA. It's kind of a twofer, you know, villify the enemy (North Korea) and rake in the dough at the same time.

It will be interesting to hear the street story associated with the suddenly plentiful supply of super cheap heroin when it splashes.

All delivered with the BFEE good housekeeping seal of approval.

[kodi]

6. NK has been smuggling meth into japan for years for cash flow

heroin? perhaps, but then again, if the NKs are willing to sell missile technology to pakistan and iran, they would not think twice about moving weight in horse.

[Sugarbleus]

7. There's BIG BUCK$ in the drug trade..People who want or need

MONEY will do whatever is easiest to get it. All kinds of people,in all kinds of places are involved in that trade...no big surprise.