This cable discusses coverage of the North Korean smuggling scandals in the Norwegian press.

This cable reproduces a Norwegian Daily Aftenposten report on a meeting between the North Korean, Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish Ambassadors in Peking, China. It focuses especially on North Korean desires to maintain relationships with the Nordic countries.

A summary of the North Korean smuggling scandal in Scandinavia produced by the US intelligence community.

The CIA reports that Norway and Denmark have expelled North Korean diplomats for smuggling alcohol and tobacco.

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that evidence of smuggling in the North Korean Embassy in Oslo is "incontrovertible" and the decision to expel embassy personnel "fully justified."

North Korea objects to the expulsion of North Korean embassy personnel from Norway and denies that any illegal smuggling took place.