North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would continue developing nuclear programmes and introduce a "new strategic weapon" in the near future.
Poverty in North Korea has been attributed to poor governance by the totalitarian regime. It is estimated that 60% of the total population of North Korea live below the poverty line in 2020. Although they have a poverty rate of more than half of their population, yet North Korea is listed as the top 10 countries to own nuclear weapon.
If you are wondering how this is possible, one of the main reason would be Room 39.
Room 39, officially Central Committee Bureau 39 of the Workers' Party of Korea, also referred to as Bureau 39, Division 39, or Office 39 is a secretive North Korean party organization that seeks ways to maintain the foreign currency slush fund for leaders. The organization is estimated to bring in between $500 million and $1 billion per year or more
Room 39 was established by Kim Il-sung in the late 1970s It has been described as the linchpin of the North's so-called "court economy" centered on the dynastic Kim family
Office 39 is accused by the United States and United Nations of running a large network of illicit money-making operations such as currency counterfeiting, narcotics and arms sales.
North Korea's counterfeit $US100 bills, known as "Supernotes", were considered one of the world's most
accurate forgeries. They were a large source of income for Office 39 until US authorities began cracking down on the sale of the notes. Office 39 is also believed to have trained chemists to produce amphetamines and opioids which were sold in Japan and other parts of Asia.
Over the years, an estimated 150,000 North Korean workers have been sent abroad to raise money for the ruling Kim family. Unknown to most North Koreans, shadowy state agencies operate around the world. They are in billions of dollars for the country or more specifically for leader Kim Jong-un helping fund his nuclear ambition.
Office 39 manages and directs all economic activities of thousands of companies and factories to bring in foreign currency to North Korea. North Korea started sending workers abroad in 1974. Slowly a gigantic network of secret companies and financial institution developed with the main goal of bringing money to Office 39.
Kim Kwan-Jin made tens of millions of dollars for his country
As a representative of the North Korean Northeast Asia Bank in Singapore, Kim Kwan-Jin made tens of millions of dollars for his country. In 2003, Pyongyang suspected him for revealing information about the country’s finances which led him to fly to Seoul. Today, the ex-banker works for the Korean Security Agency which works against the regime he once wore eternal loyalty to.
“Our main goal is to make foreign cash and this foreign cash business is a complete secret. Office 39 was created by Kim Jong-il. The system is set up where all North Korean Institutions where this foreign cash is generated, they are authorised to return it to the top which is the Kim family.” Said Kim Kwan-Jin.
He also said that 70% to 80% of their salary are cut and sent to the state and the party. If one out of the 150,000 workers makes $100 a month, that will add up to $15 million a month for the leader of North Korea. Kim Jung-Un’s fund increased dramatically in the past 20 years which means he can buy more and continue his nuclear and missile program.
All of this income flows into the funds of the state but there is no concrete proof of the secret fund transfers. Documents which could serve as evidence. Receipts, bank transfers, as well as internal notes are systematically destroyed by order of the Kim family. That is how they hide the money flowing in from the international community and how they can keep it secret from the workers who earn millions for the Kim family.
Thanks to the money that is coming through Office 39, Kim Jung-Un has a nuclear bomb that protects him beyond the border. Now the young dictator is also spending to strengthen his power within the country. While his ancestors built statues, he is building trains, bowling centres, swimming pools, museums, and theme parks which are no longer just for the elites. It appears North Korea’s secret foreign funds are defeating the UN sanctions and helping deliver progress in science, economics and lifestyle. Perhaps enough to ensure the Kim family dictatorship survives its third generation
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