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Japan¡¯s largest banks have voluntarily ceased all transactions with Banco Delta Asia, the Macau-based bank the U.S. has fingered as North Korea¡¯s main money-laundering channel, the Mainichi Shimbun reported Thursday. It did not name the banks. The paper predicted the move to fall in line with U.S. sanctions, though ostensibly the banks¡¯ own decision, will affect tentative diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Pyongyang.
The U.S. Treasury last September banned all transactions between U.S. financial institutions and the bank, which it said aided and abetted the North¡¯s distribution of counterfeit dollars. A group of Treasury officials visited South Korea and Japan last month to present evidence for the charge and ask officials there for cooperation.
North Korea and Japan are scheduled to meet in Beijing on Saturday to discuss the issue of North Korea¡¯s abduction of Japanese citizens. Japanese officials reportedly also plan to bring up the counterfeiting charge.
Senior Japanese officials say there is a need to explain concerns in the international community about money laundering to North Korea and discuss what steps can be taken. The majority Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday set up a working group to look into money transfers from Japan to the North. The measures seem intended to turn up the heat on Pyongyang ahead of the weekend talks.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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