`I Received Money from David Chang` Former North Korea Analyst Admits

Kenneth Quinones (58), a former US state department North Korea analyst who worked under Clinton administration, pleaded guilty on Thursday (US time) to conflict-of-interest charge, regarding the fact that he had received money and gifts from Korea-American businessman David Chang (57).

Quinones admitted at the federal court in Newark, New Jersey that when he recommend Chang`s `Bright & Bright` as a supply contractor to recover the US servicemen’s remains in North Korea, he did not inform his boss about that he was asked a new position from Chang, The Washington Post reported yesterday. He also pleaded guilty to a charge that he did not report the FBI and IRS about the gifts and money he received from Chang.

Chang, a major cooperating witness for the prove on US Senator Robert Torricelli`s (Democrat) illegal election fund raising, allegedly presented a 30,000 dollar value automobile to Quinones, gave a 50,000 dollar scholarship to Quinones` youngest daughter, and hired Quinones` first daughter in his hotel paying 121,000 dollars over two years. And for this reason, Quinones was being investigated, the Associate Press reported.

It has been known that although Quinones could face 5 years in prison and a fine of 250,000 dollars, there is slim chance for him to receive the punishment, since a plea bargain between the prosecutors has been made.

During the 1992 ~ 95 nuclear negotiation between North Korea and US, Quinones led the inspection on the nuclear facility in Youngbyun. After retiring from the state department, he has been active as a North Korea specialist. When he worked for the MCI, a nonprofit international aid organization, as the Northeast Asia project leader, he donated 10,000 young apple trees to North Korea.

Chang had reportedly contacted Quinones and sanator Torricelli to collect the money that he could not receive after exporting grain to North Korea.

mickey@donga.com