Criminal sovereignty
Subtitle: understanding North Korea's illicit international activities
By: Paul Rexton Kan, Bruce E. Bechtol, Jr., Robert M. Collins
Contributors: Bechtol, Bruce E., 1959-; Collins, Robert M., 1949-; Army War College (U.S.). Strategic Studies Institute
Series: Letort papers -- [no. 36]; Letort papers -- [no. 36]
Publisher: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Carlisle, PA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 36
ISBN-13: 9781584874324
Description: North Korea's criminal conduct, smuggling, trafficking, and counterfeiting, is well known, but the organization directing it is understudied or overlooked. North Korea practices a form of "criminal sovereignty" that is unique in the contemporary international security arena. It uses state sovereignty to protect itself from external interference in its domestic affairs while dedicating a portion of its government to carrying out illicit international activities in defiance of international law and the domestic laws of numerous other nations. The proceeds of these activities are used in a number of ways to sustain North Korea's existence and to enable other policies. The authors of this monograph focus on North Korea's Office #39 as the state apparatus that directs illicit activities to include the manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs, the counterfeiting of U.S. currency, and the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit cigarettes. Finally, as Kim Jong-Il becomes more frail, the authors assess how his successor may continue or alter Office #39's activities.--
Notes: "March 2010."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 28-36).

Also available online in PDF format from Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) web site. Adobe Acrobat Reader required.
Table of contents: title: Origins and activities of Office #39. Drug trafficking ; Counterfeit currency operations ; Counterfeit cigarettes; title: The effects of 39's activities; title: Office #39 and Kim regime succession; title: Recommendations; title: Conclusion.