Pubdate: Tue, 09 Feb 1999 Source: Kyodo News (Japan) Copyright: All articles 1999 Kyodo News U.S. AGENCY CONCERNED OVER N. KOREAN 'DRUG TRAFFICKING' WASHINGTON, -- A U.S. research agency has expressed concern over alleged state sponsorship of drug production and trafficking by North Korea in a report recently prepared for Congress. The Congressional Research Service said allegations of large-scale drug production and trafficking by North Korea raise concern for Congress, the administration and U.S. allies in combating international drug trafficking. ''The challenge to policy-makers is how to pursue an effective counter-drug policy and comply with U.S. law which may require cutting off aid to North Korea while pursuing other high priority U.S. foreign policy objectives'' such as limiting possession and output of weapons of mass destruction, the report said. The report also said another concern is the degree to which profits from any North Korean drug trafficking, counterfeiting and other crime-for-profit enterprises may be used directly to finance North Korea's alleged nuclear programs. Since 1976, North Korea has been linked to more than 30 incidents involving drug seizures in at least 13 countries, the report said. These cases have involved the arrest or detention of North Korean diplomats or officials, it said. The report said farmers in certain areas in North Korea are reportedly ordered to grow opium poppy, with a cultivation estimate of 7,000 hectares for 1995. Current production, however, is believed to be below the 1995 level because of heavy rains and the broad decline of agricultural output due to poor policies and insufficient fertilizer and insecticides, it said. ''Looking at all available estimates, a cultivation estimate of 3,000 to 4,000 hectares for 1998 would appear reasonable,'' the report said, noting such estimates are based on indirect and fragmented information. U.S. government investigative agency sources estimate North Korea's raw opium production capacity at 50 tons annually, with 40 tons reportedly produced in 1995, the report said. It also said methamphetamine production in North Korea is reported to have started in 1996 after heavy rains decreased income from poppy production. Markets for methamphetamine are dramatically expanding in Asia, especially in Thailand, Japan and the Philippines. North Korea's maximum methamphetamine production capacity is estimated to be 10- 15 tons of the highest quality product for export, it said. Conservative estimates suggest North Korean criminal activity in 1997 generated 71 million dollars from drugs and 15 million dollars from counterfeiting, it said. - --- MAP posted-by: Rich O'Grady