[USFK Forums] Senior aide of Kim Jong-il arrested in Macao: report [Yonhap]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Saturday, January 28, 2006

Senior aide of Kim Jong-il arrested in Macao: report

SEOUL, Jan. 28 (Yonhap) -- A local Internet news site reported Saturday that a top aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was arrested in Macao earlier this month.

Citing Japanese diplomatic sources, DailyNK claimed Kang Sang-choon, a secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chief of staff to Kim, was detained in connection to circulation of forged U.S. dollars and money laundering.

DailyNK, which specializes in news related to the reclusive communist country, also said the arrest may have taken place on Jan. 11 and that South Korean and Japanese intelligence services are in the process of verifying the information.

Regarding the allegations, a source at the National Intelligence Service, South Korea's spy agency, said it received information on the matter. The official, however, said the agency is not in a position to offer a confirmation at this time.

Experts here said Kang is not involved in his country's policy-making process.

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