North Korea Removed from U.S. List of Drug-Traffickers
by Richardson ~ September 20th, 2007. Filed under: Diplomacy, Economics, Engagement, Six-Party Talks.At the briefing on release of Annual Report on the Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for FY 2008 on 17 September, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Christy McCampbell verified that North Korea is not on the list:
QUESTION: [Paul Eckert of Reuters.] And if I might follow up. North Korea is not on the list, is it, because they fall below the amount or –
MS. MCCAMPBELL: Yes. It’s not affecting — North Korea is not affecting the United States as much as the requirements on the list.
Also see this report from Bloomberg (h/t OFK). As Joshua notes:
To say that North Korea is not producing and pushing drugs when all of the evidence we have suggests that it is is quite simply a lie — a dirty, expedient, political lie…
I agree that North Korea likely is continuing illicit drug manufacturing and distribution, but there have been no (reported) incidences since ~2003. This may explain some of the reason for that:
It is possible that methamphetamine manufactured in the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - North Korea] is now identified as Chinese-source, because of the involvement of ethnic Chinese criminal elements working with the DPRK abroad, as well as within China, in the narcotics production/trafficking business.
At any rate, it appears that there is also no new evidence that North Korea is not engaging in drug trafficking. Not unlike the pre-Iraq war intelligence, we know they were - and have no indication that they are not still - engaging in this activity. In light of that, taking them off the list was clearly a “diplomatic” move tied to the Six-Party Talks, which I and many other Korea watchers judge will ultimately be an exercise in futility.
September 20th, 2007 at 10:10 am
As I said on Joshua’s blog, the whole thing stinks. Last I read, the trade is coming along just fine, also, since North Korea is in a cash crunch, common sense tells me they have to make money any way they can. Yes, while there is no evidence to suggest that, common sense tells me otherwise.
I also agree this is a political move, and I worry this is setting up for the removal on the terror list. I sure hope I am wrong, because of the possible Syrian connection.
September 20th, 2007 at 10:12 am
[...] across the river. I guess that all stopped now. Update: See One Free Korea’s in-depth report. DPRK Studies has a post too. (Updates as posts come) [?] Share [...]
September 20th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
That’s the key issue. We’ve not seen any DPRK drug activity since ~2003, and aside from unresolved issued like the Japanese Red Army Faction members who hijacked a Japanese airliner to North Korea in 1970 and who have been living there ever since, there have not been any recent events or support to terrorists that’s been made public.
September 20th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
That’s the thing. I am wondering is the ROK pressuring the US for this removal? After all, Japan is not too keen on the idea.
September 20th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
I’m sure the ROK would like to be able to pressure the U.S., but my sense is that the ROKG can crap in one hand and hope to pressure the U.S. in the other, and see which one fills up first. Sorry about the crassness, but it does sum things up well.
September 21st, 2007 at 5:19 am
I think the USA knows darn well that KJI *NEVER* intends to give up his weapons, and so, the USA is just playing along like it’s doing it’s part (in the perception of the international community) in making best efforts and acting in good faith. This is an overt/tangible way for the USA to be seen as such. The US still needs to win the “blame-game” to be able to have the political capital and allied support to completely strangle KJI after he reneges on all this. It also helps the GNP in the upcoming elections because they are seen as the party that is allied with the USA, unlike the Uri was and Roh who are virtually against.
My curiosity is really burning as to what the Korean summit is going to bring about. It where the next big move on the chess board will take place, I’m guessing.
September 25th, 2007 at 12:09 am
[...] list just yet, the taking them off the narcotics trade seemed a stepping stone in my opinion. As Richardson pointed out (Also see One Free Korea), there has been no solid evidence of trade since around 2003 (something I [...]
September 25th, 2007 at 7:50 am
[...] Mark, Jack [...] • Pjöngjang im August 3 Kevin, Richardson, Koreabloggen • North Korea Removed from U.S. List of Drug-Traffickers 5 Kevin, Richardson, Jack [...] • Where Were You on 11 September 2001? 22 [...]