North Korea Has a Meth Problem, an Unstable Leader—and Nukes

Financial Times ^ | 8/28/15 | Rob Garver

[Kartographer]

Reports in South Korean media, however, relying largely on the stories of defectors, tell a very different story. In a country where food is often scarce, crystal meth has in recent years become so abundant that a serious addiction problem has taken hold.

The crackdown is a recent phenomenon, but the production of crystal meth in North Korea has been known, if not widely discussed, for years. Last year, Vice News highlighted the country’s struggle with the problem, which apparently emerged from the government’s attempt to find new ways of raising funds in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

[Kartographer]

May be they can't feed their people, but they can make them high enough that they don't care.

[AU72]

North Korea US Has a Meth Problem, an Unstable Leader—and Nukes

[maddog55]

We have many more nukes, a socialist Marxist president that hates America and he probably still does coke every now and then.

[b4its2late]

Yeah.

[gaijin]

For the wives of the NK ruling elite, Meth is now a common DIET AID:

I’m completely serious.

[henkster]

...the government’s attempt to find new ways of raising funds in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

I always laugh when I see a story about a communist country struggling over money. I thought they were supposed to be above that.

[Eternal_Bear]

Heisenberg?

[DannyTN]

I guess if their teeth fall out they can always have them executed.

[blackdog]

Meth addiction runs it’s natural course. The outcome is good IMHO. Kidney failure, liver failure, psychosis, nervous system damage has them clawing at their skin, heart failure, teeth falling out, and death comes as your friend to put it all behind you.

[blackdog]

Hitler and Mao were big amphetamine freaks.

[RC one]

Is America any different really?

[rbg81]

Yup. Walter White fooled everyone. He’s not dead, just gone to NK.

[dainbramaged]

The entire WWII nazi military was on crystal meth. Standard issue. It worked well for a while.

[forgotten man]

Meth suppresses the appetite for food. That is why meth addicts are skinny. At least the North Korean meth addicts are not going hungry.

[2harddrive]

IF it can get its nukes to WORK. Still a big if.

[GeronL]

lol

[SevenofNine]

So Little Kim is Jesse?

[null and void]

I’m not certain...

[Flick Lives]

Breaking Bad Hair Day

[SevenofNine]

Yup you call that

I could imagine Little Kim call everybody B word