Pyongyang, North Korea
North Korea is earning more than $100 million a year by producing counterfeit cigarettes, Time Asia reported this week. An investigation by a coalition of major U.S., European, and Japanese tobacco companies has identified at least 10 factories in North Korea, some owned by the government and some owned by foreign crime syndicates that pay kickbacks to the regime of Kim Jong Il. Together, the factories produce around 40 billion counterfeit cigarettes a year, selling them as major brands, such as Marlboro and Benson & Hedges. North Korea is believed to be turning to the knockoff cigarettes for income because of international pressure on its money-laundering and drug-smuggling industries.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why Britain is struggling to stop the ransomware cyberattacksThe Explainer New business models have greatly lowered barriers to entry for criminal hackers
-
Greene’s rebellion: a Maga hardliner turns against TrumpIn the Spotlight The Georgia congresswoman’s independent streak has ‘not gone unnoticed’ by the president
-
Crossword: October 26, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
