hankyoreh

North Korea has asked Macao's Banco Delta Asia to accounts in Italy and Russia, Japan's Kyodo News Service reported Monday, quoting deputy Chinese foreign minister Wu Dawei, who spoke with Japanese lawmakers visiting Beijing, including the Liberal Democratic Party official Masahiko Komura.

Wu is quoted as saying that authorities from Macao and North Korea met on on April 28, when the North Koreans asked that its funds be transfered in either dollars or Euros. Wu said authorities are "studying whether that is technically possible."

Korea's Yonhap News Agency quoted a Banco Delta Asia official said on April 29 that Macao financial supervisory authorities have told the bank to make the necessary preparations for transferring North Korea's money. Yonhap also quotes the official as saying North Korea's choices for third country wire routing are Singapore, Vietnam, and Mongolia, and that the funds may go through all or any one of those countries.

"There is activity but nothing is definite," said a high-ranking South Korean official familiar with the six party process. "It looks like things will come together this week, so let's wait a little longer."

The official said Pyongyang had not asked Seoul for assistance, but answered, somewhat rhetorically, "Wouldn't it ask if it needs anything?"



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