North Korea Is A Major Opium Producer, Making It A Prime Target For The CIA
By Whitney Webb, MintPress, 8 May 2017. North Korea is starting to
produce more opium in a bid to financially prop up its regime following Chinese
sanctions on its coal exports. Will its increased opium production make it a
target for the U.S. military? History suggests this may be the case.
produce more opium in a bid to financially prop up its regime following Chinese
sanctions on its coal exports. Will its increased opium production make it a
target for the U.S. military? History suggests this may be the case.
When the U.S. overthrew the
Taliban in the wake of 9/11 as part of its newly launched “war on terror,” it
set the stage for the explosive growth of Afghanistan’s dying opium industry. A
few short months before the invasion took place, the Taliban made headlines for having “dramatically
ended the country’s massive opium trade” after the leader of the fundamentalist
group had declared the substance to be un-Islamic. At the time, Afghanistan’s
opium was used to produce 75 percent of the world’s heroin.
Taliban in the wake of 9/11 as part of its newly launched “war on terror,” it
set the stage for the explosive growth of Afghanistan’s dying opium industry. A
few short months before the invasion took place, the Taliban made headlines for having “dramatically
ended the country’s massive opium trade” after the leader of the fundamentalist
group had declared the substance to be un-Islamic. At the time, Afghanistan’s
opium was used to produce 75 percent of the world’s heroin.
But despite being squashed by the
Taliban, the opium market made a dramatic comeback immediately following the
U.S. invasion in October 2001. Not only was the opium trade restored, it surged drastically – rising from a
production level of 185 tons under the Taliban (before the production ban) to
3,400 tons in 2002.
Taliban, the opium market made a dramatic comeback immediately following the
U.S. invasion in October 2001. Not only was the opium trade restored, it surged drastically – rising from a
production level of 185 tons under the Taliban (before the production ban) to
3,400 tons in 2002.
Over a decade later, the amount
of opium harvested annually continues to rise. Afghanistan’s opium is now used to produce 90 percent of the world’s heroin.
This increase has been directly overseen by U.S. forces, who openly guard
Afghanistan’s poppy fields. Indeed, during that same
time, the U.S. government claims to have spent $8.4 billion on counternarcotic
programs within Afghanistan.
of opium harvested annually continues to rise. Afghanistan’s opium is now used to produce 90 percent of the world’s heroin.
This increase has been directly overseen by U.S. forces, who openly guard
Afghanistan’s poppy fields. Indeed, during that same
time, the U.S. government claims to have spent $8.4 billion on counternarcotic
programs within Afghanistan.
The dramatic increase in opium
production in post-invasion Afghanistan has sparked speculation regarding the
motives behind the aggressive action that the U.S. has recently taken towards
North Korea, which is also a major opium producer.
production in post-invasion Afghanistan has sparked speculation regarding the
motives behind the aggressive action that the U.S. has recently taken towards
North Korea, which is also a major opium producer.
While government-sanctioned opium
production took a hit after Kim Jong-un assumed power in 2011, things have
changed drastically in recent months, largely due to Chinese sanctions that
were announced in mid-February. The sanctions, created in response to a North
Korean ballistic missile test, led China to refuse imports of North Korean coal. Coal represents 40 percent of North Korea’s exports to China.
production took a hit after Kim Jong-un assumed power in 2011, things have
changed drastically in recent months, largely due to Chinese sanctions that
were announced in mid-February. The sanctions, created in response to a North
Korean ballistic missile test, led China to refuse imports of North Korean coal. Coal represents 40 percent of North Korea’s exports to China.
That drastic hit to the North
Korean economy has apparently forced Kim Jong-un’s hand, as opium production
has once again picked up. Kang Cheol-hwan, a North Korean defector and
president of the North Korea Strategy Center, told the Yonhap News Agency that “the North is
cultivating poppy fields again for drug smuggling as a way to secure funds to
manage its regime.”
Korean economy has apparently forced Kim Jong-un’s hand, as opium production
has once again picked up. Kang Cheol-hwan, a North Korean defector and
president of the North Korea Strategy Center, told the Yonhap News Agency that “the North is
cultivating poppy fields again for drug smuggling as a way to secure funds to
manage its regime.”
While North Korea’s opium
production is small compared to that of post-invasion Afghanistan, it is still
significant. North Korea, according to the Chosun Ilbo, produces around 40 tons of
opium annually — comparable to Pakistan’s opium industry. Most of its opium is
smuggled into and sold in China and cannot be targeted by sanctions, since it
is hard to trace on the black market.
production is small compared to that of post-invasion Afghanistan, it is still
significant. North Korea, according to the Chosun Ilbo, produces around 40 tons of
opium annually — comparable to Pakistan’s opium industry. Most of its opium is
smuggled into and sold in China and cannot be targeted by sanctions, since it
is hard to trace on the black market.
Some have speculated that North Korea’s return
to opium production has caught the attention of the CIA, as the intelligence
agency has a history of involving itself in opium trade and drug-running in general, as evidenced by its well-documented habit of managing drug
supplies from Latin America to Asia.
to opium production has caught the attention of the CIA, as the intelligence
agency has a history of involving itself in opium trade and drug-running in general, as evidenced by its well-documented habit of managing drug
supplies from Latin America to Asia.
In addition, opioid addiction –
in the form of both legal opiate painkillers and illegal drugs – is growing out
of control in the U.S., with more opium being consumed within America than ever
before. The onset of this epidemic coincided with the U.S.’ occupation of
Afghanistan as, between 2002 and 2013, U.S. heroin use jumped by 63 percent, reaching a 20-year high. Heroin overdoses quadrupled in the U.S. within that
same timeframe.
in the form of both legal opiate painkillers and illegal drugs – is growing out
of control in the U.S., with more opium being consumed within America than ever
before. The onset of this epidemic coincided with the U.S.’ occupation of
Afghanistan as, between 2002 and 2013, U.S. heroin use jumped by 63 percent, reaching a 20-year high. Heroin overdoses quadrupled in the U.S. within that
same timeframe.
The U.S. government’s actions
also suggest that it seeks to protect opium production, as has been made clear
in its occupation of Afghanistan. For instance, the U.S. vehemently opposes opium legalization efforts and the State Department refuses to acknowledge eradicating opium as a
primary goal, despite the billions that have been spent on counternarcotic
programs.
also suggest that it seeks to protect opium production, as has been made clear
in its occupation of Afghanistan. For instance, the U.S. vehemently opposes opium legalization efforts and the State Department refuses to acknowledge eradicating opium as a
primary goal, despite the billions that have been spent on counternarcotic
programs.
With tension increasing on the
Korean Peninsula, the U.S. has put “all options on the table” in order to prevent
further missile tests and “provocations” from the Kim Jong-un regime, including
warnings that the U.S. may soon find itself in a “major, major conflict” with North Korea.
Korean Peninsula, the U.S. has put “all options on the table” in order to prevent
further missile tests and “provocations” from the Kim Jong-un regime, including
warnings that the U.S. may soon find itself in a “major, major conflict” with North Korea.
If North Korea finds itself
targeted for regime change, history suggests that the U.S. military may end up
guarding its poppy fields as well.
targeted for regime change, history suggests that the U.S. military may end up
guarding its poppy fields as well.
