[USFK Forums] S. Korea ups pressure on North on counterfeiting [Reuters]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Wednesday, February 15, 2006

S.Korea ups pressure on North on counterfeiting

Tue Feb 14, 3:16 AM ET

Seoul (Reuters) - South Korea on Tuesday stepped up pressure on North Korea to end suspected counterfeiting and money laundering, saying Pyongyang must turn its pledge of co-operation into action.

In rare direct comments against the North, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said South Korea's concern about "the North's illegal activities" were grave and must be addressed by Pyongyang.

Ban has previously said counterfeiting was an international concern and if North Korea was involved in such activity it must stop. Seoul has not said if it believes U.S. suspicions that North Korea is counterfeiting U.S. currency."We believe the North must take the steps necessary to answer to international suspicion," Ban told reporters.

He said Seoul noted with interest recent North Korean comments that it would take part in international efforts to curb money laundering. A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying last week by the North's official media that it would "join international actions against money laundering."

"We hope that these comments lead to action," Ban said. North Korea has reacted angrily to a recent U.S. crackdown against firms suspected of involvement in illicit financial dealings by the North, including a Macau-based bank.

Washington says North Korea uses the money earned from counterfeiting, money laundering and drug dealings to help fund its nuclear weapons programs. North Korea has denied involvement in such illicit financial activities.

Pyongyang has said it would not return to six-country talks aimed at ending its nuclear programs until Washington stops the crackdown, which it says is an effort to topple its leadership.

The last round of the talks by North and South Korea, the United States, Japan, Russia and China was held in November. South Korea named Ban earlier in the day as its candidate to run for the post of U.N. secretary-general



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