(1) Manufacturing and trafficking drugs: It started with heroin. Then they move to meth which is manufactured at their large chemical factory, which is said to be high-grade. Meth is smuggled to China, S. Korea, and even Japan. These days people are said to build their own meth lab and cook their own meth to sell. People use heroin and meth to treat their medical problem. It does not cure anything, but medical care basically collapsed in N. Korea, and there are few real hospitals stocked with proper medicine. So people resort to readily available drugs as substitutes. It is said that people developed casual attitude toward meth, and nobody really raises their eyebrows if they see somebody doing drug. It is especially prevalent in North Eastern part of the country where they have thriving cross-border smuggling operation and meth production facilities are concentrated.
(2) Printing sophisticated couterfeit currencies such as U.S. dollar and even Chinese Yuan.
Less known examples:
(3) Illegal trade of banned items such as ivories (in Africa.)
(4) Running online-gambling sites which is said to be lucrative.
(5) Smuggling out ancient artifacts, which should be destined in museums.
I am sure there are other errors, but this one caught my attention.
You are correct on every point you make & everything you have stated is true.
I’ve read articles where young NKorkers who escape thru China to SKorea wind up very culturally overwhelmed and confused and many still do meth as a matter of routine.
I want to add this link to youtube because it’s been their latest hit for quite a while.
But look at it- it’s pure propaganda but it’s like soooo long ago.... compared to mill workers here in the US.
yeah- an actual mill worker who goes from bobbin to bobbin at a very fast pace like a galloping horse- (!) aaaahhhhhh....just another propaganda song LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT1pYisainw