The news in June 2016 about North Korea ratifying the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime ought to be taken as an eye-opening warning. Given the extent of Pyongyang’s deep involvement in transnational criminal activity, signing a convention the purpose of which is to eliminate such enterprise was, and still is, outrageous and farcical.

Law enforcement agencies often distinguish between crimes against people, property crimes, and crimes against the state. For example, assault is clearly a crime against a person, arson is termed a property crime, and selling contraband medicines is an offense against society.