September 30, 2023
Analysis

Inside the Kim family business: Office 39

Experts believe North Korea’s infamous “slush fund” could be moving away from illicit dealings

It’s been accused of many things: international drug dealing, insurance fraud, counterfeiting U.S. dollars. The list of alleged international illicit activity by North Korea’s Office 39 is long and complex.

But one thing is for sure: It is involved in the acquisition of hard currency for Kim Jong Un and the DPRK’s ruling elite, and has employed a variety of schemes to raise these funds.