Pubdate: Mon, 15 Sep 2003
Source: Reuters (Wire)
Copyright: 2003 Reuters Limited

BUSH PLEDGES TO STOP NORTH KOREAN DRUG TRAFFICKING

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush expressed concern on Monday about drug
trafficking by North Korea and pledged stepped-up efforts to stop it.

"The president ... registered his growing concern over heroin and
methamphetamine trafficking linked to North Korea, and expressed his intent
for the United States to intensify its efforts to stop North Korean
involvement in narcotics production and trafficking," the White House said
in a statement.

A U.S. government report issued on Monday identified 23 countries as either
"major drug transit or major illicit drug-producing countries." Two of those
countries, Myanmar and Haiti, had "failed demonstrably" to meet obligations
to fight the drug trade.

However, Bush decided to continue providing assistance to Haiti because it
was "vital to the national interests of the United States," the White House
said.

North Korea was not included on the list of 23 major drug-producing or
trafficking countries, but the White House said it was increasingly
convinced that North Korean state agents and enterprises were involved in
the narcotics trade.
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