[USFK Forums] U.S. puts counterfeit issue on table [Korea Herald]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Sunday, March 19, 2006

U.S. puts counterfeit issue on table

The Korea Herald, Saturday, March 18, 2006

The United States is willing to discuss the conflict over North Korea`s alleged illegal activities within the six-party nuclear negotiation framework, a top U.S. envoy in Korea said yesterday.

The six-party talks have been on an indefinite hold since November last year when Pyongyang took issue with Washington`s financial sanction against a Macau-based bank for allegedly helping the North circulate counterfeited U.S. dollars.

Washington insisted the move was separate from the nuclear standoff, while Pyongyang contended the U.S. government was trying to rein in the communist state.

South Korea hopes the nuclear negotiations comprising the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan would resume at least by April so as not to further lose the momentum achieved last year with the Joint Statement on denuclearization principles, according to government sources here.

[PHOTO: Unloadable] ▲U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow speaks during a morning seminar hosted by the Grand National Party yesterday at the National Assembly. [The Korea Herald]

The United States and North Korea held rare one-on-one talks on the issue last week but the discussion ended without bearing fruit. Washington, according to some foreign reports, refused Pyongyang`s suggestion to create a special committee on the issue.

"We indicated that we are prepared to continue to discuss the same issues discussed in New York," U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Alexander Vershbow was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency at the National Assembly.

"But there are plenty of opportunities to do that in the context of the six-party talks, where many different contacts can take place."

The U.S. ambassador, who attended a morning seminar hosted by senior Grand National Party lawmakers, denied speculation that his government was changing its policy on the North Korean nuclear problem.

"There is no change in our commitment to the six-party talks and to a diplomatic solution to the North Korean nuclear question," he was quoted as saying. "Washington has been working very hard on policies of the six-party talks and we will be ready to move forward if the talks resume."

During the two-hour, closed-door session, Vershbow also talked about how the United States did not want a collapse of the North Korean regime, according to Rep. Shim Jae-chul.

Shim quoted Vershbow as saying that the United States did not wish for the collapse of North Korea and that it hoped instead for a gradual change of the hermit state.

Verhsbow also underscored the need for China to maintain a consistent policy on North Korea in line with those of South Korea and the United States, Shim added.

(angiely@heraldm.com)


Vershbow cited Russia as a good role model for North Korea to execute economic reforms and open the market, Shim said.

A senior U.S. Treasury official was quoted as saying that Washington will continue to press against any terrorists, weapons of mass destruction proliferators, narcotics traffickers and other organized crimes, citing that the ban against Banco Delta Asia was a good example.

Treasury Undersecretary Stuart Levey was quoted as saying during his remarks at the Terrorist Financing Conference in the Netherlands, that the proscription of Banco Delta Asia "has produced encouraging results."

Levey said the BDA case was "worth noting" and said, "Jurisdictions in the region have begun conducting investigations and taking necessary steps to identify and cut off illicit North Korean business."

The official added "our continued and constant vigilance will be needed to ensure these results do not wane."


(angiely@heraldm.com)


By Lee Joo-hee


2006.03.18