Swiss fund North Korean officer training

[Democracyinkind]

April 24, 2014 - 18:43

Switzerland has paid for North Korean army officers to attend peace and security training courses in Geneva since 2011, it has been revealed. But several parliamentarians have criticised the support worth CHF150,000 ($170,000).

According to Swiss public radio (RTS), eight North Korean officers have attended courses at the Geneva Center for Security Policy over the past three years, funded by the Swiss defence ministry. Two are currently present.

There they have followed study programmes on global security issues such as weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and human rights. The Ukraine crisis and the Arab spring uprisings have also been studied from the armed forces and democratisation perspectives.

Bern hopes these courses will contribute to peace efforts and encourage the hardline Communist regime to open up. An official told RTS that their engagement was ‘quite limited’ but nonetheless ‘worthwhile’

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/Swiss_fund_North_Korean_officer_training.html?cid=38451592

There is neutrality, which is a commendable policy. Then there is supporting a murderous regime by believing in unicorns. My taxes at work... But maybe it is fitting as the great Kim Yong Un probably enjoyed much of his education in Switzerland, although Swiss authorities didn't realize that until decades later, presumably. It's news like this that almost makes me wish that Hanna Bell was still posting... Something tells me that would have made for some, uhm, interesting comments...

[onehandle]

1. A perfect pairing. nt

[Democracyinkind]

2. I won't even ask... But offense taken ;) nt.

[former9thward]

3. Do they train them how to do their spectacular executions?

How to do it with dogs? How to do it with mortar rounds? With flamethrowers?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9630509/North-Korean-army-minister-executed-with-mortar-round.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/10750082/North-Korean-official-executed-by-flame-thrower.html

[Democracyinkind]

4. I don't think that the Swiss military has much expertise in those areas.

The truth is even more bizarre... "They" invite North Korean officers to study much the same stuff that is taught at European defense colleges. "The significance of weapons of mass destruction for global security" is a course that was offered for them... It's rather ironic.