News Stories

[AnimeFan188]

Crystal meth: North Korea's new drug of choice:

"Many goods aren't readily accessible in North Korea, but according to a new study,
one is: Methamphetamine.

Though research about drug use in the closed-off country is scarce (as are accurate
reports originating from North Korea), a new study published in the American
journal "North Korean Review" estimates that 40 to 50 percent of meth users in the
northern part of North Korea are addicted to the drug, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The study, titled "A New Face of North Korean Drug Use," details how crystal meth,
known as "ice," has replaced opium as the most commonly abused narcotic.

"Almost every adult in that area (of North Korea) has experienced using ice and not
just once," the study's co-author, Kim Seok-hyang, told the Journal."

See:

http://news.msn.com/world/crystal-me...drug-of-choice

[Jinto]

What exactly does that tell me...

..."North Korean Review" estimates that 40 to 50 percent of meth users in the
northern part of North Korea are addicted to the drug...

That 40-50% of meth users are not addicted to the drug... But how is that relevant to the claim:

"Many goods aren't readily accessible in North Korea, but according to a new study,
one is: Methamphetamine.

Logic, they better understand that concept before they start writing news articles

[JokerD]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

Crystal meth: North Korea's new drug of choice:

"Many goods aren't readily accessible in North Korea, but according to a new study,
one is: Methamphetamine.

Though research about drug use in the closed-off country is scarce (as are accurate
reports originating from North Korea), a new study published in the American
journal "North Korean Review" estimates that 40 to 50 percent of meth users in the
northern part of North Korea are addicted to the drug, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The study, titled "A New Face of North Korean Drug Use," details how crystal meth,
known as "ice," has replaced opium as the most commonly abused narcotic.

"Almost every adult in that area (of North Korea) has experienced using ice and not
just once," the study's co-author, Kim Seok-hyang, told the Journal."

See:

http://news.msn.com/world/crystal-me...drug-of-choice

And how exactly did they do the study? I don't expect the NK authority to allow them to come in and interview people...

[ganbaru]

U.S. takes tougher line with Egypt but denies aid cut
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...97J11E20130820
Am I the only one wondering if US should use the menace to cutting the aid ?

[demonix]

Originally Posted by kyp275

I wonder if they will at least seize the money he made with these, so when he gets out he'll have nothing - as it should be.

Taken from the same report.

A confiscation hearing against Bolton is due to be held next year.

[ganbaru]

WikiLeaks soldier Manning sentenced to 35 years in prison
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...97J0JI20130821

Japan's nuclear crisis deepens, China expresses 'shock'
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...97K02B20130821

Exclusive: Tough-talking China pricing regulator sought confessions from foreign firms
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...97K05020130821

[Endless Soul]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

Exclusive: Tough-talking China pricing regulator sought confessions from foreign firms
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...97K05020130821

I found this to be an interesting article. All I can really say is if companies don't like how they handle business in China, then don't do business there.

Endless "Comply...or else" Soul

[aohige]

It's hard enough getting PHOTOS out of North Korea, taking a large sample research on its drug problems seem rather impossible.

[TooPurePureBoy]

Why does anyone feel the need to write and publish a poorly researched article that simply reinforces what the world pretty much already knows (that shit gets cray cray up in North Korea)?

[risingstar3110]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

WikiLeaks soldier Manning sentenced to 35 years in prison
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...97J0JI20130821

Japan's nuclear crisis deepens, China expresses 'shock'
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...97K02B20130821

Exclusive: Tough-talking China pricing regulator sought confessions from foreign firms
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...97K05020130821

35years.....

In the same article:

In 2005, Defense Department employee Lawrence Franklin pleaded guilty to passing classified data on Iran to two pro-Israel lobbyists. He received a prison sentence of 12 years, which a judge later cut to 10 months in a halfway house.

[Jinto]

Originally Posted by risingstar3110

35years.....

In the same article:

In 2005, Defense Department employee Lawrence Franklin pleaded guilty to passing classified data on Iran to two pro-Israel lobbyists. He received a prison sentence of 12 years, which a judge later cut to 10 months in a halfway house.

Even considering a certain room for maneuver in jurisdiction, I can hardly imagine, that the factual difference of the crime in both cases can explain the differences in the sentence. Lady justice may not be as blind as she ought to be.
We got the message... don't f*ck with the USA.

[Xellos-_^]

Other observers agreed the sentence would be a powerful deterrent and in future help to protect national security.
"The message will be sent in a loud and clear fashion to all those in uniform that they do not get to make decisions on what is legitimate and what is not, with regard to U.S. policy," said Steven Bucci, a foreign policy specialist at the Heritage Foundation.

unless of course the secrets are pass off to Israel. You then get a slap on the wrist and job as Israel lobbyist.

[ganbaru]

NSA collected 56,000 emails by Americans a year: documents
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...97K14Y20130822

Republicans weigh using debt limit as leverage on Obamacare
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...97L01O20130822

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by risingstar3110

35years.....

I know what he did may have put soldiers' lives in danger, and could perhaps be considered treasonous, but it seems quite extreme to me that the penalty he's getting is far more severe than what is given to a man that "just" engages in one cold-blooded premeditated murder.

So its worse to leak classified national documents than it is to kill a person with your own bare hands. That seems to be the message being sent here.

[aohige]

I don't know, rather conflicted.

While we wish for transparencies on information especially under distrust of authorities, at the same time, the gravity of consequences of leaks are not marginal, and classified information should, by all account, be classified. I don't find the sentence to be extreme, but at the same time sympathize with the guilty.

[risingstar3110]

My question is, can you say the same thing if it was not America, but North Korea, or China or Country X (insert whatever country you hate here) do similar thing? Accuse a citizen or a person who expose a national secret (e.g. human right related, or something on oppressed citizens, like Tibet) that may cause backslash and lead to revenge on polices or military personnel stationed there.

That is: putting soldiers' lives in danger, right? Expose classified information, right?

[aohige]

Eh, I'd be surprised if some of those countries only let him go with 35 years of prison, instead of lining up in front of a firing squad. Especially North Korea.
Ol' Kimmy rocketed people into bits for far less.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by risingstar3110

My question is, can you say the same thing if it was not America, but North Korea, or China or Country X (insert whatever country you hate here) do similar thing? Accuse a citizen or a person who expose a national secret (e.g. human right related, or something on oppressed citizens, like Tibet) that may cause backslash and lead to revenge on polices or military personnel stationed there.

That is: putting soldiers' lives in danger, right? Expose classified information, right?

If America wants to be on equal grounds as the likes of China and North Korea, that is their choice. And I will keep that in mind and in the future, treat America with the same (non-existent) amount of trust and admiration as I have towards North Korea.

The fact is I would get less of a prison sentence to murder someone on national TV. Telling the truth is now worse than murder.

[Sumeragi]

Justice has been served. The sentence was on the light side, though.

[MeoTwister5]

Personally it'll be history that will see just how big of a damage the leaks have done, if any at all. It'll be a few more years down the line before we see the effects.