BUSTED: "Is DELL Computer Aiding N. Korea [Weapons Program] In Violation of US Federal Law?"

Korean Central News Agency, (KCNA), North Korea ^ | 25 May 2010 | AmericanInTokyo

[AmericanInTokyo]

Just found this photo from Communist North Korea from several days ago apparantly during one of dictator Kim Jong il's "on the spot guidance tours".

and also here:

Note the manufacturer of the computer monitor (and presumably the hard drive itself) (Dell Computer, Round Rock, Texas, USA), which General Secretary Kim Jong-il is inspecting.

Link to article on North Korean news through Japanese website:

LINK

[Puddleglum]

well, a monitor AND dinky speakers. Don’t leave out the speakers.

[raybbr]

How much stock do you own in Dell, might I kindly ask?

Even I find that insulting.

There are millions of used computers all over world. The idea the Dell is guilty of some sort of crime is exactly like blaming gun manufactures for a criminal stealing a gun.

[AFreeBird]

Sorry AiT, but I have to go along with others here. Dell’s winding up in the hands of NK would be impossible for Dell to control. Back in the day, when the IBM 5150 first came out, only authorized dealers were allowed to sell them. But that didn’t stop a burgeoning grey market from cropping up right here in the states.

Dells are sold practically everywhere around the world. Wouldn’t be too hard for NK to get their hands on them.

[FunkyZero]

MY first reaction...

- It's North Korea, It's likely either a) counterfeit or b) the only one in the entire country; smuggled in for a PR shot to show just how great things are in NK.

Not that I'm some big Dell fan or anything...

[Condor51]

Not to defend Dell, as I had one of their computers from HELL.
(service file over an inch thick, everything replaced except the motherboard, many parts three times)

BUT, not even they would be that STOO-PID^™ to sell direct to NK.
It was likely smuggled in.

[Poser]

Is it illegal for the Chinese to sell a used Dell monitor to North Korea?

[stephenjohnbanker]

” Is not this what Free Republic is all about? Asking legitimate questions and trying to determine facts? “

Yes it is exactly what Free Republic is all about. But then again, you have to put up with the “mavens”. The experts who ridicule you. People like DB, who are engineers who know more about everything that you should bow down to their intellectual superiority.

Keep me posted and thanks.

[stephenjohnbanker]

see 67.

[6SJ7]

"You expect me to watch porn on this crummy 13" monitor!"

[AppyPappy]

"The Dear Leader points out a syntax error in the computer code of Korea's foremost computer expert."

[piroque]

It merits digging I would say. I don't care less if a few toes are stepped on. Computer systems in North Korea are aiming weapons at our troops as we speak, and as long as I have a free voice on Free Republic, I will speak up and report, dammit.

thanks for the heads-ups on this matter ,,,,

[Rocky]

LOL! Or how about: “Dear Leader makes a personal inspection of North Korea’s computer.”

[Abby4116]

When you buy directly from Dell, you have to check a box on the order that restricts where the computer will be used.

Now that you can buy Dell products off the shelf in stores such as Staples, I doubt that they have you sign anything other than the charge slip.

[Abathar]

[Nik Naym]

There is nothing wrong with noting that the norks have a Dell monitor, nor is there anything wrong with asking how they got it.

We are talking about a consumer commodity here, one that is available practically anywhere in the world, and could be bought or sold by millions of different individuals and entities.

To conclude that Dell is guilty of supplying it to them based on nothing more than a picture of it is just plain stupid.

Your thread title starts with the word “busted” in all caps. It looks like you have already drawn your conclusion.

[reagan_fanatic]

Probably bought through a front company or second hand.

Not out of the realm of possibility - remember those specialized capacitors used in nuclear weaponry that Saddam got a hold of (despite extremely tight export regulations?) He wasn't supposed to have access to those, either.

[greedo]

My guess:  a CIA front company sold it to them, at an irresistibly low price.

The DPRK's nuke and ballistic missile programs could be disrupted and set back for years, if they could be tricked into using PCs loaded with crapware and Windows Vista Home Basic.  The norks should build their own computers and get  root.

[catnipman]

Let’s get a grip here. Only about a few billion people can legally buy all the Dell computers they want in over a hundred different countries.

How difficult do you think it would be for North Korea to get their hands on a few hundred of those Dell computers, say, for a markup of a few hundred percent? Oh yeah, I forgot, everyone checks a little box on the Dell site saying they won’t do that, so I’m sure the markup trick wouldn’t work, right?

I haven’t noticed any U.S. naval blockades along the NK coasts lately, which is what it would take to prevent illegal imports of all types going into NK, and that’s assuming the Chinese would cooperate along their border, and even then, a markup of a few thousand percent would be enough incentive to smuggle whatever NK wanted across that border.

[mkjessup]

If we have come to the point on FR where asking legitimate questions brings nothing but mockery and ridicule, then I say it's time for a general housecleaning of these naysaying parrots and cuckoo birds whose only claim to fame is pissing all over threads like this one.

AiT is a class act, and one of the most respected FReepers bar none, and if he believes something is worthy of being posted and investigated, that's good enough for me. He's on the ground in the Far East and has a far better perspective than most of us regarding events in that region. Ditto for TigerLikesRooster who definitely keeps his ear to the ground, and those two fine FReepers are going to be our 'go to' guys when and if (more likely 'when') war breaks out between Pyongyang and Seoul.

Having said all that, let's have some more fun with that little POS Kimmy:
"Dear Leader Kim Jong Il demonstrates his superior skills in accomplishing 27 holes in one, in a row, using Microsoft Golf Simulator"