[AmericanInTokyo]

N39°54' E127°32'

Kim visited "Hamhung University of Chemical Industry" on or about 21 May 2010. The institution was Hamhung University of Chemical Industry (咸興化学工業大学)

The Academy of Defense Science [Hamhung Branch] is one of at least four chemical weapons research and development facilities, and there is speculation that the University of Chemical Industry [formerly the Hamhung University of Chemical Industry] may have some connection with chemical technology associated with the North Korean nuclear weapons program. (Source: FAS)

I found these photos today on the KCNA website out of Pyongyang, and some Japanese websites of North Korean origin.

"Trading with the Enemy Act" (12 U.S.C. § 95a) may or may not apply in this case--as this is primarily directed at Cuba, but certainly the provision of technical products to the DPRK for North Korea's chemical weapons program is going to raise a lot of eyebrows, as well as serious questions.

If utilizing this thread elsewhere, please quote specifically the work of AiT and FREE REPUBLIC, and link to this original thread, where this story has initially appeared (25 May 2010).

[AmericanInTokyo]

Tiger, here’s a good one.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Ping!

[Cindy]

ping

[DB]

You think Dell can control where their computers get exported by third parties?

Impossible.

Dell’s are sold all over the world. Once purchased by a third party it is impossible to control who the third party transfers it to.

[SoFloFreeper]

Dell may have made the thing; I doubt they sold it to the NORKs. I mean, Dells are everywhere.

What if you saw Kim Jong Mentally Ill using “Kleenex”? Would you assume Kleenex is in bed with the NORKs? :)

[Domangart]

He has so many shoppers working for him that he can get any common thing he wants.

[E Rocc]

Likely bought through multiple cutouts.

Michael Dell himself is an active Republican who’s pointed out that Reaganomics was a critical prerequisite of the ‘80s/90s tech boom.

[NoLibZone]

Dells suck.

[AmericanInTokyo]

ping to you, too.

[mkjessup]

These are serious and legitimate questions you're asking AiT, and the naysaying phuckwits need to give their heads a shake, I appreciate your efforts and if nothing else, this highlights the fact that Pyongyang continues to acquire items useful to their nuclear weapons development that they SHOULD NOT HAVE.

I must admit however, that the visual image of some North Korean nuclear engineer calling up Dell technical support for assistance via some bloody call centre in New Delhi where the Dell representative's first words of advice are "To correct this problem, we must re-format your hard drive and reinstall Windows", now THAT is the stuff of great comedy skits! lol

Have a great day AiT!

[Hardraade]

Interesting - but you are looking at a monitor. Not a computer. Not much regulation on computer monitors (or TV-sets, for that matter) I think.

[Born to Conserve]

“the hard drive itself”. That’s so cute! I love ignorant people.

[Puddleglum]

silly hyperbole in this thread’s title. “The thirteen-inch monitor that shook the world!!!”

[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?

[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."

[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.