Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In its latest attempt to raise money to cope with its economic crisis, North Korea has resorted to defrauding international insurance companies. By digitally doctoring pictures of natural disasters, Pyongyang has been able to obtain up to “US$ 20 million [. . .] through fraudulent insurance schemes,” an expert said.
Recently, the Associated Press (AP), the world’s largest news agency, has become an unwitting accomplice in the scheme. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s official news agency, provided AP with a photo of seven people (pictured) wading along a submerged road in dry clothes.
AP transmitted the photo to its customers and the KCNA report, which reported deaths and damage. “A lot of dwelling houses, public buildings and roads were destroyed . . . causing casualties,” the report said, thus giving the North Korean regime a way to claim disaster insurance. However, the photo sent along with the report appeared digitally altered to increase the size of the claim. Soon after, AP withdrew the photo.
“North Korea’s state insurance company is tasked with obtaining tens of millions of dollars annually, and every year kickbacks amounting to about US$ 20 million obtained through fraudulent insurance schemes are sent to National Defence Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il,” said Kim Kwang-jin, Senior Researcher at South Korea’s Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS).
Pyongyang cheats international insurance companies to get money
Prostrate by its economic crisis, the North Korean regime cheats international insurance companies by resorting to fake disaster claims. A digitally altered photo purportedly shows flood damages.
