| North Korea for many today is a country that | | | | own pseudo $100 dollar bills. They make |
| is not known very well. Even among many in | | | | around 30% profit on these $100.00 |
| the Humanitarian field, getting help to | | | | counterfeits, while traditonal color copied |
| people in this distant country is difficult. | | | | make far less. In the past the South Korean |
| We know so little about it, yet we know it is | | | | intelligence agency has been able to track |
| a dangerous country. How do we know this? For | | | | and get viable information on the North |
| one, many politicians have said it. The next | | | | Korean counterfeiting activities. The USA is |
| thing we must do is ask ourselves do we | | | | in current production to make the $100.00 |
| believe them? After all if they are a | | | | bill a hard one to counterfeit, but this |
| dangerous country, a missle heading towards | | | | won't be available for some time. All this |
| Alaska is not a very long way to travel. | | | | illegal activity is for a reason. It is the |
| | | | trade deficit that North Korea must account |
| Ever since the Korean war, it seems we have | | | | for. They import more than they export. The |
| been at war with this nation in one way or | | | | money must come from somewhere, so they get |
| another. There has been no "lets shake hands | | | | it both legally and illegally. |
| and come out friends". For the most part they | | | | |
| have stayed isolated and out of touch. On the | | | | As the nations watch on, North Korea does its |
| other hand, the USA has reached into just | | | | flip-flops on the nuclear issue. Within this |
| about every country on earth. We have been in | | | | breach of trust we find China and Japan |
| the Vietnam war, Desert Storm running Sadam | | | | alongside South Korea wondering what is going |
| out of Kuwait, invaded Afghanistan creating a | | | | on in North Korea and what their intentions |
| government there, and now we are in Iraq. To | | | | are. From the American standpoint, we do not |
| top it off we make threatening gestures to | | | | trust them. For the North Koreans we are a |
| Iran weekly. Is it any wonder we have some | | | | hostile nation that has invaded other |
| that distrust us. | | | | nations. They really believe we would invade |
| | | | them. On the one hand this nation needs more |
| That is what North Korea does. It does not | | | | money, all the while they are building up |
| trust us. According to the Congressional | | | | nuclear stockpiles and pleading for the |
| Research office (in the Library of Congress) | | | | understanding of the international community. |
| stated that "North Korea considers the United | | | | |
| States to be a hostile nation and often takes | | | | The nation of North Korea is simply a closed |
| actions commensurate with that policy." This | | | | country. One that absolutely distrusts the |
| fact was reported in one of their latest | | | | USA. We believe ours is the moral right. |
| releases of CRS materials. For the record we | | | | Within the nations on earth, our moral right |
| don't trust them either. Like all nations out | | | | has been heard time and again. The power and |
| for its own existence, North Korea needs | | | | might of the American fist can come down |
| money. The CRS reports that the Secret | | | | hard. Some fear it while others loathe it, as |
| Service broke up an illegal ring which was | | | | they play cards with us. Many nations are |
| making money for this North Korean nation. | | | | watching this scene unfold. No one wants a |
| The ring reportedly was involved in heroin | | | | nuclear holocaust. The slight of hand this |
| and methamphetamines, counterfeit cigarettes, | | | | nation does to stay atop in the politcal |
| counterfeit pharmaceuticals (for example | | | | debate is good. They manage to keep the USA |
| "USA" manufactured Viagra), and counterfeit | | | | at bay all the while working to keep their |
| currency (e.g. US $100 bill "supernotes"). | | | | nuclear program working, or at least under |
| | | | the radar screen. |
| Morevover, the CRS estimates that North Korea | | | | |
| makes about 15-25 million dollars a year from | | | | The question we must ask ourselves can we |
| this counterfeiting of American money alone. | | | | trust a nation that counterfeits our money, |
| No one knows for sure how much money the | | | | and trades in illegal activities? When we ask |
| North Koreans make illegally, mostly at our | | | | them if they will want a nuclear weapon and |
| expense. They probably figure like many other | | | | they say no can we really believe them? This |
| nations, its okay. The USA is a rich country | | | | is a question that Condi Rice and President |
| they can afford it. The North Korean is so | | | | Bush must decide when dealing with this |
| good at counterfeiting, that it is commonly | | | | nation. When both these are gone and new |
| agreed that they could not tell the | | | | people take the mantle in the White House, |
| difference from legit $100.00 bills and their | | | | the issue will be the same. Who can we trust? |