Room 39
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Pyongyang, North Korea |
| Parent agency | Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea |
| Room 39 | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | |
|---|---|
| Hancha | |
| Revised Romanization | Samsipgu-hosil |
| McCune–Reischauer | Samsipku-hosil |
| Central Committee Bureau 39 of the Workers' Party of Korea | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 조선로동당 중앙위원회 39호실 |
| Hancha | 朝鮮勞動黨39號室 |
| Revised Romanization | Joseon Rodongdang Jungang Wiwonhoe Samsipgu-hosil |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chosŏn Rodongdang Chungang Wiwŏnhoe Samsipku-hosil |
Room 39 (officially Central Committee Bureau 39 of the Workers' Party of Korea, also referred to as Bureau 39, Division 39, or Office 39) is a secretive North Korean party organization that seeks ways to maintain the foreign currency slush fund for the country's leaders.
The organization is estimated to bring in between $500 million and $1 billion per year or more and is involved in illegal activities, such as counterfeiting $100 bills, producing controlled substances (including the synthesis of methamphetamine and the conversion of morphine into more potent opiates like heroin), and international insurance fraud.
Room 39 is the largest of three influential so-called Third Floor offices along with Office 35 tasked with intelligence and Office 38 which handles legal financial activities. Room 39 is believed to be located inside a ruling Workers' Party building in Pyongyang, not far from one of the North Korean leader's residences. All three Offices were initially housed on the third floor of the building where Kim Jong Il's office used to be, hence the moniker "Third Floor".