April 17, 2006: It's become clear, from North Korean admissions, that North Korean intelligence kidnapped nearly 500 South Koreans in the 1970s and 80s. These victims, like the Japanese kidnap victims, were mostly used as instructors for North Korean intelligence schools. Some were taken for the pleasure of senior North Korean officials. The North Koreans are unapologetic about it all.
April 14, 2006: North Korea has apparently been badly hurt by crackdowns on its illegal activities (currency counterfeiting, smuggling). This was accomplished by the U.S. shutting down international banking support for North Koreans scams. This has cut off a principal source of hard currency, and North Korea now refuses to negotiate anything unless the United States lifts the banking restrictions. It's now known, from defectors and other evidence, that North Korea has been counterfeiting U.S. hundred dollar notes since the early 1980s.
April 11, 2006: The imposed another restriction on North Korea's outlaw operations. As of May 8th, American citizens will not be allowed to own, lease, operate or insure any vessel flagged by North Korea. This will make it more difficult for North Korea to maintain its fleet of smuggling ships. It is believed that about ten of the 80 ships registered in North Korea, are American. The U.S. is considering releasing details of all ships on this list.
