North Korea’s State-Made Crystal Meth Epidemic

North Korean farmers are seen in propaganda village of Gijungdong from the South's side of the border at Panmunjom, 06 April 2005, in the Demilitarized Zone dividing North and South Korea. Up to a third of North Koreans use drugs according to research, with methamphetamine (crystal meth) being extremely prevelent. JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images

North Korea’s socialist regime used to make some of its much needed foreign currency by selling crystal meth – a state-sanctioned drug trade that has left its mark on the country.

The regime’s drug activities were prolific and well documented, with crystal meth being the regime’s export drug of choice after the difficulties of poppy production made heroin a less reliable trade.