North Korea desperately needed the foreign currency which this lethal trade could bring; its role as chief 'rogue' reinforced its prestige among anti-Western states, near and far; and it could also hope at the right moment to extort new instalments of Danegeld from America and her allies.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Thatcher suggests North Korea engaged in lethal trade to gain currency, prestige among anti-Western states, and leverage to extort money.
- In plain terms
- North Korea used this trade to get money, prestige, and leverage to demand more from the West.
- What can you take from it?
- Rogue states may use illicit trade for financial gain and political leverage.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What drives rogue state behavior?
- How do we counter extortion?
Another view
It attributes complex national behavior to simple financial greed.
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