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

[Strategerist]

Why the dramatic response to this thread?

Because it's so stupid?

[AmericanInTokyo]

Those are just the simple questions I am posing, as you have pointed out. (Seeing as they also have these American IT products at the Hamhung Naval Institute, and other military facilities in North Korea—per previous web stories and now these most recent “on the spots”). Would be nice to get a statement or reaction out of Dell.

[DB]

None of the above.

Just shocked by the stupidity of it.

[AmericanInTokyo]

So it should not be investigated and delved into futher, is that your position?

[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.

[Cindy]

SNIPPET from your link in post no. 11:

http://partnerdirect.dell.com/sites/channel/Terms%20and%20Conditions/Dell%20-%20PartnerDirect%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20EN%20EMERGING%20COUNTRY.pdf

Quote:

Accordingly, we hereby agree:

- that we will not transfer, export, or re-export, directly or indirectly, any Product(s) acquired from Dell to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and/or Syria, or any nationals thereof, or to any other country subject to restriction under applicable laws and regulations, and that we are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such country;

- that we will not use the Product(s) in any activity related to the development, production, use, or maintenance of Weapons of Mass Destruction, as defined by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, including without limitation, uses related to nuclear, missile, and/or chemical/biological development and or production and that we will not transfer, export, or
re-export, directly or indirectly to any party engaged in any such activity; if we are engaged in the development or production of Weapons of Mass Destruction, we acknowledge that we could be subject to and responsible for U.S. export licensing requirements;

- that we will not transfer, export, or re-export, directly or indirectly to any party listed by the U.S. Government or under any applicable law as prohibited from receiving Product(s) and that we are not on, or under control of anybody on, any such list;

[DB]

I don’t know what to say...

Spend millions investigating the obvious?

Where to start...

There’s only a few BILLION Dell computers in the world...

How could NK have gotten their hands on one... I don’t know...

[Strategerist]

There are 3,555 Dell monitors listed on E-bay at the moment.

Is Dell responsible for tracking who buys all of them and then who they resell them to?

So do you want to pull some investigators off the F-14 parts being sold to Iran investigation and sic them on Dell? Is that your position?

[AmericanInTokyo]

Thank you, Cindy.

[DB]

Gosh...

Someone lied when they checked out...

What to do...

Call the FBI...

This is nuts.

[DB]

I’m speechless...

Bizzaroo world...

I’m going to bed.

[AmericanInTokyo]

So what would be the point of sanctions or export controls? Agreed he has an army out there, but he found it increasingly difficult in the 2002-2005 time frame under Bush controls.

[gargoyle]

...”Owwwwww, oaaawww, My arm hurts! OK Mr. president,,, I give up,,, Uncle! What’s that Swiss bank number again???

...I wonder who the third party could possibly be, they’re soooooo many thugs out in the world today...

[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]

That is neither here nor there.

I brought this up as a legitimate question and as a reference to national security issues. Even the Japanese blogosphere from several months back has questioned this Dell-to-Pyongyang route, title: "ＤＥＬＬが北朝鮮に多数のＰＣを納入していたことが判明" (Many Dell Computers Procured By North Korean Uncovered")http://news2plus.blog123.fc2.com/blog-entry-441.html

and was discussed thoroughly, without slinging insults.

All I can surmise is that there were some upset Dell management or employees or stockholders that were disturbed by this story, spouted and went to bed. However, I think it is a story worth getting into, as deeply as possible.

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

[AmericanInTokyo]

Additional photos of other occasion, here:

http://blog-imgs-40.fc2.com/n/e/w/news2plus/20090101_1_1.jpg

[Domangart]

Greed.

[AmericanInTokyo]

ping to you, too.