[USFK Forums] U.S. has no comments on statements by Pres. Roh, Foreign Ministry

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Thursday, January 26, 2006

2006/01/26 05:04

U.S. has no comments on statements by Pres. Roh, Foreign Ministry

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. State Department had no comments Wednesday about South Korea's remarks about possible bilateral friction over North Korea policy and reiterated its stance on North Korea's illicit activities.

"Hadn't seen those comments," department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a daily briefing.

"But, you know, we've made very clear our views with regard to illicit activity," he said.

"The United States is going to take steps to protect itself in this regard, whether it's counterfeiting or drug smuggling or money laundering. And we would expect any state would act in a similar manner."


South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in his New Year's news conference said while Seoul and Washington had no policy differences, friction would be unavoidable if the U.S. tried to isolate or overthrow the North Korean regime through coercion.

The remarks coincided with a spat between South Korea's Foreign Ministry and the U.S. Embassy in Seoul over a statement following a trip there by a U.S. Treasury team.

Assistant Secretary Daniel Glaser, in charge of financing and financial crimes, was swinging through Asia for consultations, including on North Korea's illicit financial activities.

The communist regime is accused of producing and circulating bogus U.S. $100 notes, known as "supernotes," and trafficking narcotics and counterfeit goods such as cigarettes and blue jeans.

The U.S. Treasury forbade American banks from doing business with Macau-based Banco Delta Asia, saying the bank was laundering money for Pyongyang.

North Korea protested the U.S. action and has threatened to stay away from multilateral nuclear negotiations.

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul, in a statement wrapping up Glaser's visit there, issued a statement saying Washington had "urged" Seoul to take concrete punitive steps against Pyongyang's activities.

The Foreign Ministry retorted that the statement "exaggerates" and "does not reflect" the nature of discussions. The ministry protested to the embassy and received an "expected response," officials said.

ldm@yna.co.kr
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