The Black Vault - N. Korea Marketing Healing 'Stone'

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea is mass-producing a stone it has developed that when heated emits "infrared rays" that are good for the human body, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday.

The rays can remove smells, be used as a sterilizer and as a treatment for heart disease, hypertension, arthritis and other illnesses, the report said.

"The long-wave infrared rays emitted from the stone penetrate deep into the human body, giving no side effects to the heart, and help (the) human body absorb energy," it said.

The agency said the stones were being "mass produced" in various sizes, colors and patterns and branded with the name "Kumgang," or "Diamond."

North Korea's communist government is cash-strapped and has been accused of resorting to selling narcotics and missiles to raise money. Alternative health remedies are believed to be popular in the isolated country as health care is poor.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2003/05/15/MNstone.DTL