UNDP "Exploited by North Korea"
SECURITY, DIPLOMACY, HOMELAND SECURITY & TERRORISM
Friday, February 22, 2008
The United Nations Development Program received criticism last month for its former activities in North Korea. The U.S. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations cited inappropriate staffing decisions and lax financial controls as grounds for censuring the organization. In its report, the committee highlighted a transfer of $50,000 from UNDP to a Chinese company that the U.S. claims was linked to North Korea’s weapons sales. It also raised concerns regarding a $2.7 million transfer of funds from a UNDP account to North Korea’s overseas missions. According to the committee report, “the evidence indicates that the North Korean government took advantage of the altruism that drives UNDP programs,” and that greater vigilance might avoided these incidences. UNDP halted its activities in North Korea last year.
A JOINT PROGRAM OF
