North Korea Said to Remove Military’s Lucrative Export Privilege

NYT ^ | 07/21/12 | CHOE SANG-HUN

[TigerLikesRooster]

North Korea Said to Remove Military’s Lucrative Export Privilege

By CHOE SANG-HUN

SEOUL, South Korea — The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has begun stripping his country’s powerful military of its lucrative export rights in a bold attempt intended to both rejuvenate its staggering economy and curtail top generals’ influence, according to a Seoul-based Web site run by defectors from North Korea.

Although it is impossible to confirm most information about isolated North Korea, there have been hints that Mr. Kim might be unhappy with the stewardship of parts of the economy. In a speech distributed by the state news media in April, he said he intended to keep a tighter control on minerals exports, some of which analysts believe are controlled by the military.

“Some people are now attempting to recklessly exploit the country’s valuable underground resources on the excuse of earning foreign currency by exporting them,” he said, without mentioning who the culprits were.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ceausescu Romania was undone by cold and hungry regular army. NK is entering a dangerous phase.

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I predict we’ll see a leaked photo of Fatboy hanging upside down...

[mkjessup]

They better use big ropes.

[CIB-173RDABN]

There is power and there is the illusion of power. Those with the guns have power, those that seek to command those with the guns have the illusion of power.

North Korea is going to be a much more dangerous place until this all works out.

[miele man]

Check your private FR mail.