Rhino horn trading: Korean diplomat expelled from S’Africa

According to a spokesperson for South Africa’s Department of International Relations, a North Korean diplomat has been summarily expelled from SA for engaging in rhino horn trading.

North Korean embassy said the diplomat Park Chol-jun who was arrested in neighbouring Mozambique in May for the illegal trade has been sent home since the 11th of December.
Park Chol-jun was reportedly driving a car with South African diplomatic registration, containing 4.5 kg (nearly 10lb) of rhino horn and $99,300 in cash, at the time of his arrest.

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It is not the first time North Korean diplomats have been caught attempting to buy, sell or smuggle goods illegally. A North Korean envoy was expelled from Bangladesh for gold smuggling in March.

Rhino horn is highly prized on the Asian black market, where it is believed to have medicinal properties.

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