Rules? The United Nations Has Rules?

U.N. Broke Own Rules For North Korea Aid

The long awaited answer, offered up by the U.N.’s own Board of Auditors, is a clear "Yes" — though UNDP itself quickly spun the answer as a vindication.

The long-awaited and controversial audit of United Nations operations in North Korea has concluded that, in line with accusations first raised by a senior U.S. diplomat, the United Nations Development Program and other agencies contravened their own regulations in hiring local staff nominated by the dictatorial North Korean government, and in making unauthorized hard currency payments to the Kim Jong Il regime.

The auditors, who stressed that their work was only a preliminary investigation, also declared they were unable to determine the total amount of unorthodox payments made. They lacked access to documentation from the U.N.’s offices in North Korea, a frequent observation throughout their report, and even lacked access to the cashed checks involved in the transactions. The auditors also were refused access to North Korea by the Kim Jong Il regime, which refused to cooperate in the investigation.

Everyone that's surprised raise your hands! Anyone? Anyone? Didn't think so...