N Korea detains 2 Japanese over drugs, counterfeit money

Somebody didn't pay protection money, it seems. They were probably carrying a bottle of aspirin.

Of course anybody with half a brain is going to mock North Korea which is globally recognized as a major narcotics exporter and counterfeiter of foreign currencies in light of which this article headline is laughable. Whether those charged are guilty or innocent is practically an irrelevant issue. Except to NKorea supporters I suppose.

It looks weird to me. Could the drug and counterfeit trade IN Nork be that profitable that these guys would risk it? Even assuming that the companies were bogus fronts, these guys were suits, not hippies.

So why are three guys in suits doing trade with Norks in drugs and counterfeit bills? Kim can't even buy tractor parts for his people.

Well, we will never hear their side of the story, unless Masaki Furuya has something to say.

Regardless, it's interesting to watch most posters mock NK instead of the drug smugglers in question. Mayhap they have been given leeway or the opposite based on payouts; they are still drug smugglers. But let's blame the NK government!

as others have hinted at, these J-dudes & their companies are likely fronts for drug, counterfeit $$$biz & they dissed their hosts & so the host busted them & sent one home to tell the rest in Japan about it.

Say what? LOL!! This is surely a case of a pot calling a kettle black! Though "unproven" it is more likely that NK is the single largest supplier of illicit drugs, i.e. methamphetamine into Japan and has also been called out by the international community for counterfeiting the currency of many other countries. Perhaps these two gentlement where cutting in on 'ol Kim's action?

Caught as double agents/spies or the quality of the merchandise was inferior. Else they bit the hand that feeds the regime.

Obviously these blokes were not giving enough of a cut on the smack deals to the right officials. Prospect are not looking good for these guys...

A litle short on details here. What drugs were they trafficing? I thought counterfeit money was a noth korean EXPORT industry, but considering the level of expertise, I guess a north korean can spot a bogus bill a mile away.

Must have been dealing with the wrong clique. Methinks Jimmy Carter will not be riding to their rescue.

The north koreans area getting hard to do business with I see!

Weren't there just two detained for the same thing last week?

Given the alleged offences, can only imagine they were trying to avoid paying MK their cut. This stuff is how NK earns most of its foreign currency.....

Businessmen? Reminds me of Daniel Craig's opening in Layer Cake.