DPRK revenue-raising

South Korean online games a source of cash for Pyongyang

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by Philip Gowman on 5 August, 2011

in Asides | DPRK | Gaming

North Korean hackers make money out of stealing virtual property in South Korean online gaming worlds. This, according to the New York Times: Despite its decrepit economy, North Korea is believed to train an army of computer programmers and hackers. The police in Seoul said that four South Koreans and a Korean-Chinese had been arrested […]

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North Korea’s silkworm technology

by Philip Gowman 27 November 2010
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Bored with shelling South Korean islands, North Korea looks to invest in Vietnamese silk. FT blogs: http://bit.ly/dQwPzB # North Korea’s contribution to any silk venture will be its “silkworm expertise and technology”, Vietnam would, in exchange, provide labour and investment in production facilities. Keywords: General post tags: DPRK revenue-raising | Vietnam

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Ginseng, zinc, anything but cash

by Philip Gowman 2 August 2010
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North Korea offers to pay off Czech debts with ginseng. I suppose the hard cash is needed for nukes and Kim's posh brandy. The Czechs said they’d prefer zinc. http://bit.ly/9SK0dl # Keywords: General post tags: DPRK revenue-raising

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New North Korean statue in Senegal

by Philip Gowman 12 April 2010
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One of the DPRK’s monumental art exports is unveiled in Senegal: http://bit.ly/cN9UFc. Recalls Paekho’s exhibition in London, September 2007. # Keywords: Companies: Paekho Other tags: DPRK revenue-raising

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British cigarettes generate cash for DPRK

by Philip Gowman 10 March 2010
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North Korea resells British cigarettes – BAT State Express 555s – to generate hard cash: BAT sold the so-called “NK555s”, made and packaged in Singapore for the US market, to a Singaporean distributor for shipment to Nampo … However at least 15,000 cases worth $6.3m rebounded out of Nampo to ports in Vietnam and the […]

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North Korean jeans on sale in Sweden

by Philip Gowman 2 December 2009
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North Korean jeans on sale in Sweden. A snip at $215! The brand name? "NoKo". # http://nokojeans.com/ After being turned down by North Korea’s largest textile company, the group managed to secure a manufacturing deal with its largest mining company, Trade 4, which also happens to run a small textile operations on its site. Source: […]

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North Korean labourers in Russia

by Philip Gowman 26 August 2009
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North Koreans labouring in Russia's timber camps: the UK connection, on Newsnight tonight: http://bit.ly/3wAaFJ # The full video can now be viewed here http://bit.ly/s6YvM # Note the Hwang Byung-ki soundtrack. Keywords: General post tags: DPRK revenue-raising | Koreans in Soviet Union | UK-Korea links

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DPRK e-bulletin 21 April 2006: superdollars

by Philip Gowman 22 April 2006
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The DPRK’s London embassy speaks on the subject of Western accusations of drug-smuggling and currency counterfeiting: Pyongyang, April 19 (KCNA) — The people’s security institution in the DPRK tasked to protect by law the socialist system, the life and soul of its people, tightly holding the arms for state security, is following with a high […]

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