In most reported cases rebels and Ituri armed group leaders take over 50 per cent of the extorted taxations.

Fees such as a porter or self reliance development fee for road construction are regularly extorted by Government forces in lieu of forced labour.

In addition, MONUC investigations of the past six months have confirmed the existence of a harmful partnership between local representatives of government agencies and Ituri armed group leaders, under which they share extorted taxations and border duties.

Thus, the North Korean drama, now starring Kim Jong un, plays on, relying on extorted proceeds from manufactured crises abroad to finance spectacular kitsch and brutal repression at home. It is up to China, the real director of the North Korean production, to drop the curtain on this abominable show and its rogue star.