North Korea earns between $500 to $700 million a year from counterfeit cigarettes
Source: “Fake Cigarettes ‘N. Korea’s Biggest Money-Spinner’,” Chosum Ilbo, August 17, 2006, (accessed: August 18, 2006).
41 billion counterfeit cigarettes produced each year in North Korea
The counterfeit cigarettes are sold in China, Japan, and the United States.
Source: Richard Lloyd Parry, “An economy built on drug dealers, ivory poachers and counterfeiters”, The Times (United Kingdom), October 11,2006.
US still investigating Supernotes
The US Treasury announced Congressional testimony that it was still investigating counterfeit dollars known as “Supernotes” believed to originate from North Korea.
From Reuters:
Turning to North Korea, Levey said the U.S. Secret Service was continuing to investigate counterfeiting activities by Pyongyang. He said high-quality counterfeit $100 bills produced by North Kora, known as the “Supernote”, were [...]
Human Trafficking on the China-North Korea border
South Korean Newspaper The Chosun Ilbo has a report on the thriving traffic of humans on the border between China and North Korea.
From the english version of the Chosun Ilbo:
A 26-year-old North Korean woman, Mun Yun-hee crossed the Duman or Tumen River into China in the dawn of Oct. 22 last year, which at that [...]
Black Market Radios in North Korea
In North Korea, information and news are considered contraband products and must be obtained in the black market. As radios are manufactured to only receive the official station, CNN reports on a defector in South Korea who is attempting to combat the propaganda of Kim Jong-Il.
From CNN:
It broadcasts only three hours a day. Its [...]
Seizing contraband films in North Korea
So how does North Korea Officials seize films that are banned in North Korea?
Reuters mentions one method:
One analyst said a routine tactic used by North Korean police is to cut the electricity to apartment blocs before a raid and then go to each home to check what is on video tapes or DVDs that have [...]
