How North Korea Built the World's Largest Criminal Empire

Have you ever wondered how can North Korea afford its nuclear program and the luxury goods for its leadership when its economy is effectively cut off from the world? Well… let me tell you a little secret.

Selected sources and further reading:

[theboxman]

The way they get the money criminally shows that it is not a crime if the government approves it

[maturedgangz]

As long as they continue their criminal activities, someone or some people in the west are benefiting. Don't be deceived .

[mirzaahmed]

As a Bangladeshi, I'm just surprised we had $101 million in forex reserves in the first place.

[lecturesfromleeds]

Did you know that Britain has relatively good relations with North Korea? Both countries have embassies in each others countries, and North Korea can provide English speaking doctors and lawyers for British citizens, plus the only western film to ever be allowed to be broadcast in North Korea was the British film "Bend it like Beckham"

[theoutdoorguy]

There are two economies in North Korea. The first one is the official economy governed by the state. The second economy is called the Royal Court economy. This economy is directly controlled by Kim jong-un, and ran out of office 39. North Korea unofficially trades directly from China via rail and trucks. They also trade with Russia as well unofficially.

[willyu]

Korean War is still lasting. It didn’t end in 1953 but it was negotiated to stop temporarily.

[jenniferbreaux]

Not a complete surprise, but absolutely fascinating.

[WasabiDreams]

a very well put together mini documentary.

[Wilbargosh]

When I worked in Cambodia, the North Koreans would come through the Phenom Penh airport with boxes of freshly minted USD and exchange them for genuine notes at 80% of its face value; thereby cleaning their fake notes for old real notes. They are very good fakes and most people can not tell the difference

[robertbaisagale]

That's what Sanctions will do to any nation

[endaddy]

I think Myanmar is another example of this kind of economy

[macrosense]

South Korea had reverend moon and has chaebol families. Operating under that veneer of conventionality seems to generate more wealth for the nation as a whole.

[andriusrisovas]

Why do other countries have to allow those diplomats to come? What might be the official reason of the visit? and why calls or emails aren't enough?

[adssadassssdsa]

It´s not illegal if the supreme leader does it.

[kajakjohlopi]

Other non-criminal ventures include the North Korea-run pachinko empire in Japan, and those weird state-sponsored "Pyongyang" restaurants spread across the world. Edit: oh and near-slave menial workers lent to other countries to build infrastructure and such and paid pennies.

[joels]

Cancelling diplomatic relations with North Korea altogether is a way to curtail their illegal smuggling activities. Not just revoking diplomatic immunity for current officials, but all North Koreans in perpetuity. If there was a real will to end the regime, measures could be taken.

[kedevy]

0:21 That yacht has a 'Red Duster' which is the british civil ensign

[darkfool]

Honestly, this situation pushes the definition of a criminal empire to its breaking point. North Korea is a sovereign state under heavy sanctions, bypassing sanctions and other laws are the simple reality of its existance.

[gosnooky]

North Korea is pretty much the Lex Luthor of planet Earth.

[centredoorplugsthornton]

A Korea expert said it's the policy of juche, which means "up yours."