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How N.Korea's Ruling Family Swells Its Private Coffers (Chia Head's Shih Tzus living large)
Chosun Ilbo ^ | 04/28/10

Posted on 04/28/2010 5:40:00 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

How N.Korea's Ruling Family Swells Its Private Coffers

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's youngest son and the heir apparent Kim Jong-un is already said to be busy amassing his own slush fund. Despite North Korea's dire economic difficulties, Kim Jong-il himself is said to have stashed away between US$200-300 million every year to finance his lavish lifestyle and maintain the party elite's loyalty to him.

With the money, North Korea would be able to import between 400,000 to 600,000 tons of rice, which would be enough to cover half the country's food shortage of 1 million tons of rice per year.

Key departments within the Workers Party are pressuring agencies under their control to offer "loyalty funds" for the successor, a source familiar with North Korean affairs said. "A separate company has been established under the leadership of Kim Jong-un to secretly amass foreign currency."

The source said Kim senior uses his slush fund to finance his expensive tastes, build monuments in his own honor and buy gifts for his loyal aides. Faced with increasing difficulties bolstering his slush funds under international sanctions, the Kim is said to have issued an ultimatum to his top officials in February, saying from now on he would judge their loyalty based on the amount they contribute to the fund.

/snip

The North is estimated to have imported more than $100 million worth of high-quality liquor, cars and other luxury goods in 2008. And also on the list are pet dogs, which the Kim family are said to adore. Kim buys dozens of German shepherds, Shih Tzus and other breeds from France and Switzerland every year. He also buys dog food, shampoo and other pet products as well as medical equipment for the dogs and has foreign veterinarians check their health.

(Excerpt) Read more at english.chosun.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: kimjongil; nkorea; shihtzu; wealth

1 posted on 04/28/2010 5:40:00 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster

A wealthy ruling class? Sounds familiar.


2 posted on 04/28/2010 5:41:08 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Surpsie, Surprise.

Funny I have never heard of a dictator whose family actually lowered their net worth during the regieme’s authoritarian rule.


3 posted on 04/28/2010 5:42:33 AM PDT by rod1
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To: TigerLikesRooster

He and his family are insane

and yet treated by our presidents and cabinet and the UN with all the pomp and circumstance of a national leader


4 posted on 04/28/2010 5:42:34 AM PDT by silverleaf (Karl Marx was not one of the founding fathers ....)
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To: TigerLikesRooster; AmericanInTokyo; Steel Wolf; nuconvert; MizSterious; nw_arizona_granny; ...

I am Chia Shih Tzu. Obama should bow to me.


5 posted on 04/28/2010 5:43:48 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster (The way to crush the bourgeois is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation)
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To: Wolfie

Same thing happens in every dictatorship beloved by the far left.


6 posted on 04/28/2010 5:53:43 AM PDT by GeronL (http://libertyfic.proboards.com << Get your science fiction and fiction test marketed)
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To: silverleaf
He and his family are insanely wealthy.
7 posted on 04/28/2010 5:56:08 AM PDT by ColdWater ("The theory of evolution really has no bearing on what I'm trying to accomplish with FR anyway. ")
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To: rod1
Kim Jong-un is already said to be busy amassing his own slush fund


8 posted on 04/28/2010 5:57:37 AM PDT by C210N (A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take everything you have)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

And what is the White House’s budget for Wagu Beef and Lobster?


9 posted on 04/28/2010 6:02:05 AM PDT by Redleg Duke (RAT Hunting Season started the evening of March 21st, 2010!)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

I want adopt that dog HOW CUTEEE

Sorry Tiger that doggie is adorable NOT Chia Pet oh GOD NO


10 posted on 04/28/2010 10:07:59 AM PDT by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us ,resistance is futile")
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