North Korea's Slight of Hand

North Korea for many today is a country that isown pseudo $100 dollar bills. They make around
not known very well. Even among many in the30% profit on these $100.00 counterfeits, while
Humanitarian field, getting help to people in thistraditonal color copied make far less. In the past
distant country is difficult. We know so little aboutthe South Korean intelligence agency has been
it, yet we know it is a dangerous country. Howable to track and get viable information on the
do we know this? For one, many politicians haveNorth Korean counterfeiting activities. The USA is
said it. The next thing we must do is askin current production to make the $100.00 bill a
ourselves do we believe them? After all if theyhard one to counterfeit, but this won't be available
are a dangerous country, a missle headingfor some time. All this illegal activity is for a
towards Alaska is not a very long way to travel.reason. It is the trade deficit that North Korea
Ever since the Korean war, it seems we havemust account for. They import more than they
been at war with this nation in one way orexport. The money must come from
another. There has been no "lets shake hands andsomewhere, so they get it both legally and illegally.
come out friends". For the most part they haveAs the nations watch on, North Korea does its
stayed isolated and out of touch. On the otherflip-flops on the nuclear issue. Within this breach of
hand, the USA has reached into just about everytrust we find China and Japan alongside South
country on earth. We have been in the VietnamKorea wondering what is going on in North Korea
war, Desert Storm running Sadam out of Kuwait,and what their intentions are. From the American
invaded Afghanistan creating a government there,standpoint, we do not trust them. For the North
and now we are in Iraq. To top it off we makeKoreans we are a hostile nation that has invaded
threatening gestures to Iran weekly. Is it anyother nations. They really believe we would invade
wonder we have some that distrust us.them. On the one hand this nation needs more
That is what North Korea does. It does not trustmoney, all the while they are building up nuclear
us. According to the Congressional Researchstockpiles and pleading for the understanding of
office (in the Library of Congress) stated thatthe international community.
"North Korea considers the United States to be aThe nation of North Korea is simply a closed
hostile nation and often takes actionscountry. One that absolutely distrusts the USA.
commensurate with that policy." This fact wasWe believe ours is the moral right. Within the
reported in one of their latest releases of CRSnations on earth, our moral right has been heard
materials. For the record we don't trust themtime and again. The power and might of the
either. Like all nations out for its own existence,American fist can come down hard. Some fear it
North Korea needs money. The CRS reports thatwhile others loathe it, as they play cards with us.
the Secret Service broke up an illegal ring whichMany nations are watching this scene unfold. No
was making money for this North Korean nation.one wants a nuclear holocaust. The slight of hand
The ring reportedly was involved in heroin andthis nation does to stay atop in the politcal debate
methamphetamines, counterfeit cigarettes,is good. They manage to keep the USA at bay all
counterfeit pharmaceuticals (for example "USA"the while working to keep their nuclear program
manufactured Viagra), and counterfeit currencyworking, or at least under the radar screen.
(e.g. US $100 bill "supernotes").The question we must ask ourselves can we
Morevover, the CRS estimates that North Koreatrust a nation that counterfeits our money, and
makes about 15-25 million dollars a year from thistrades in illegal activities? When we ask them if
counterfeiting of American money alone. No onethey will want a nuclear weapon and they say no
knows for sure how much money the Northcan we really believe them? This is a question
Koreans make illegally, mostly at our expense.that Condi Rice and President Bush must decide
They probably figure like many other nations, itswhen dealing with this nation. When both these
okay. The USA is a rich country they can affordare gone and new people take the mantle in the
it. The North Korean is so good at counterfeiting,White House, the issue will be the same. Who can
that it is commonly agreed that they could not tellwe trust?
the difference from legit $100.00 bills and their