US to Explain North Korean Sanctions

The U.S. announced on February 28 that it will explain the reasons and evidence for the financial constraints it has imposed on North Korea at a meeting with the Director-General of the American Affairs Bureau at the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Li Gun on March 7 in New York.

Concerning the North Korean Foreign Ministry’s denial of counterfeit U.S. dollars and money laundering and the demand for the lifting of U.S. financial sanctions, deputy spokesman of the U.S. State Department Adam Ereli stated, “Our briefing next week will give us an opportunity to present the reasons and evidence why the U.S. did so.”

Regarding the North’s claim that the sanctions are part of a plot to overthrow the North Korean government, Ereli said that the U.S. was simply taking measures to apply the law regarding illegal financial transactions.

Ereli explained that the financial constraints were aimed at illegal conduct, not against any government.

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com