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Did you think that they made it clear? All they said was that one Swiss official doubted the North Koreans could have done it based on the quality of actual North Korean currency.

Actually they quote John Bolton, no liberal, as saying he never saw any evidence that North Korea actually manufactured the notes, though they were caught distributing them. Which would seem to support the idea that these notes were manufactured in order to distribute through certain channels and follow the paper trail. It could be that they're being used to identify links between terrorist organizations and rogue nations, certain individuals and terrorist organizations, things like that. Of course it that is the case then McClatchy newspapers have just torpedoed it.

BTW, the Germans did counterfeit British currency during World War II and used it to pay off spies.

Yes they did. But the currency of 60 years ago is nowhere near as high tech as currency now. They didn't have the embedded strips and the micro-printing used on today's notes.

It was a substantial effort on the part of the Germans. The German notes were indistinguishable from genuine notes and the British changed their currency soon after the War. The Bank of England will still honor older banknotes, but will inquire about their provenance.

Nothing in the article makes it clear (to me, at least) that it isn’t the North Koreans. They have the motive and opportunity, you are questioning the means. It is interesting that a lot of the bogus currency has been traced to North Korean diplomats. Like I said, how else does he finance all those Mercedes and Hennessey?

Lonesome in Massachussets ~ BTW, the Germans did counterfeit British currency during World War II and used it to pay off spies.

Non-Sequitur ~ Yes they did. But the currency of 60 years ago is nowhere near as high tech as currency now. They didn't have the embedded strips and the micro-printing used on today's notes.

IIRC, they had a dickens of a time cracking the code that related the plate numbers to the bill's serial numbers

A friend who is 'in the loop' told me that our modern bank notes have 5400 separate security features. I imagine just figuring out what they all are, let alone duplicating each one, is somewhat challenging...

Speaking of embedded strips, I love the rumor, old as it is, that the cops on the overpass of an interstate are actually pinging for those strips...to see how much cash a car is carrying!

:o)

-Joan

“Of course it that is the case then McClatchy newspapers have just torpedoed it.”

Yes, they were quite prolific in the details given about ID’ing the bills.

VVVVVVery Prolific.

The paper is the key. If the paper duplicates American banknotes, there are only two possibilities:

1. It actually is American banknote paper. Either stolen (in necessarily small quantities) or printed-to-order for the CIA or another government agency.

2. If it is actually a duplicate, this becomes a necessarily massive enterprise. Making paper -- especially specialty paper -- is a high capital operation. A foreign government would be the likely culprit. Or, less likely, a legitimate paper mill owned by criminal interests (with all the security risk that would entail).