How North Korea Makes Money

How does a bitterly impoverished, famine-ravaged country with little in the way of discernible industry afford a nuclear weapons program? How do its elites live in the lap of luxury despite ruthless international sanctions? The short answer is weaponized nerds

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Imagery supplied via Getty Images

[thnk_outside]

its like in nature: no predator is getting absolute power, there is always some little parasite disturbing his reign

[nesseihtgnay]

I'll save yall the time, black market and China

[Peter_Scheen]

Some twenty years ago somebody told me that the next major war would not be fought on the battle field but would be digital.

[amarmkulkarni]

I always wondered this, but never got an proper answer...
Now i can say, "I know"

[vince]

You explained how they make a couple billions. I assume thats not enough to run a country that size. This can't be the full picture.

[HyungnamGu]

North Korea started counterfeiting cigarettes in the 1990s, but the operations seem to have expanded substantially in the 2000s, prompting a response when both China and Taiwan seized fake packaging and other materials destined for North Korea. Even with more seizures, North Korean–made counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes have made their way to the United States and have become an entrenched problem. Cigarettes are easier to counterfeit and sell compared to other illicit goods, because they are a lower priority for law enforcement.Counterfeiting cigarettes might not seem like something that could earn North Korea a lot of money, but a single shipping container of cigarettes can be worth more than $3 million. It has been estimated that after production and distribution costs, North Korea could be raking in as much as $160 million a year in profit from counterfeit cigarettes. As many of the cigarette factories in North Korea are run by the North Korean military, the foreign cash earned goes straight back to the militarization of North Korea.

[HyungnamGu]

If North Korea has anything in abundance, it’s people. And how can this commodity be monetized? By sending them overseas to work and send their earnings back to North Korea, holding their families hostage to ensure compliance. Over 50, 000 North Korean laborers toil overseas for the regime, sending back remittances totaling nearly $2 billion a year. The laborers work in terrible conditions for long hours and are lucky to see even 10 percent of their paycheck.North Korean laborers can be found in more than 40 different countries in the Middle East, Africa, and even Europe—but mostly in China and Russia, with 20, 000 and 19, 000 workers, respectively. Most are employed in industries requiring hard physical labor, like construction. And with the United Nations cracking down on other North Korean cash flows, the country has been increasing the number of laborers sent overseas to make up for the shortfall in cash it earns from other activities.

[mackenzieaustin]

*The reality of the rich and the poor is this: the rich invest their money and spend what is left. The poor spend their money and invest what is left"*

[Loxner]

great video but the background music is distracting

[DoomAM]

Stubborn insistence on self reliance? You just said they suffer from ruthless international sanctions lol. They have no choice.

[MusicToTheEars]

Whoever it is, it better be the U.S. that prevails.

[eza]

So you're telling me they didn't even bother to hack South Korea? Instead chose Japan? Doesn't sound right to me. I'm an IT student and I can tell you hacking is bad and has a major consequence, I am not defending NK by any means, in fact I despise them for their inhumanity against their own kin. But this video didn't give me a clausable answer. Countries far greater and smaller have had higher headlines and greater cash outs than NK. I believe we can all say "hacking" isn't ONE of its economy.

[domino]

I can’t believe other countries are okay with this. Why don’t they call out North Korea?

[Evolushaun]

5:05

"Weaponized North Korean Nerds"

Nice..

New Gaming Username!

[Lazarusart]

Ha, utter BS ! Criminal activity by Any country could be blamed on NK.

[Pasloooo]

Still kinda fucked up that in 2021 there's a country what does all kinds of random things and nobody care, but then people complain human rights in other places and shit :D

[draminsammour]

What r u talking about? U still didn’t answer the question where they have money

So bad video

[englishwords]

it's a oversaturated vocabulary video for ESL learners..

[ninarosado]

I could be making money for them but im being tortured and held against my will

[listomoto]

Clearly you dont know how economic works. Just a movie fanatic guy who watch youtube videos and movies.