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| Korea |
| Spokesman for DPRK Foreign Ministry on impounding of cargo ship "Pongsu" |
| 2003-05-07 |
| Only dopes use dope...and get caught with about 50 million dollars worth of it on one of their ships. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea today gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA as regards the disturbing moves to use its cargo ship "Pongsu" impounded in Australia for a smear campaign against it: The United States and Australia are now engrossed in the false propaganda that the Workers' Party of Korea and the government of the DPRK were involved in the drug smuggling which occurred in Australia. We were SHOCKED! SHOCKED!! U.S. State Secretary Powell, addressing the senate foreign relations committee on April 30, slandered the DPRK, saying North Korea is not only exporting missiles but narcotics as evidenced by what happened in Australia. The U.S. is building up public opinion by linking the drug smuggling case with the DPRK again at a time when the former is trying hard to refer the nuclear issue to the UNSC despite the realistic proposal made by the latter to settle it. This is part of Washington's moves to increase the international pressure on the DPRK. Hey! Nukes and heroin! There's a great combination! The DPRK government has consistently been opposed to the misuse and smuggling of drug and has nothing to do with the recent case. We have informed the Australian side that the ship "Pongsu" is a civilian trading ship and the ship owner's side has no idea of this at all. "...no idea of this at all!!!" We cannot but express surprise and regret at the fact that Australia is linking the case with the DPRK government by playing on the U.S. assertion. The origin of the case and the attempt to deliberately link the case with the DPRK from its very beginning compel us strongly suspect that the case is not a mere drug smuggling case but a premeditated case orchestrated to do harm to the DPRK and stifle it to the end under the pretext of its nuclear issue. We were setup! Somebody planted 50 million in heroin on the Pongsu! That's not mine, you planted it? We cannot but take a serious note of the fact that they are pulling up the party and government of the DPRK without any evidence even before the truth about the case is probed. No evidence! That's powdered milk for starving African children! We will closely watch how the case is dealt with and never tolerate any attempt to use the case for impairing the authority and dignity of the DPRK. I can remember a couple of their diplomats getting bagged back in the 80's smuggling drugs in. They were sent home. Then I believe they were shot. Not for smuggling drugs, but for getting caught. I wouldn't want to be on the crew of the Pongsu. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #1 THAT'S why Kimmie thinks the way he does - he's the poster child for the "This is your brain on drugs" commercials - too much of his own bit'o poppy. There had to be SOME rational explanation. |
| Posted by: Tadderly 2003-05-07 11:27:43 |