Japan FM Expresses Doubt About North Korea

Science Daily ^ | 5-11-2007

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Japan FM expresses doubt about N. Korea

TOKYO, May 11 (UPI) -- Japan's foreign minister doesn't expect North Korea to keep its initial denuclearization commitment immediately after getting its money from a Macao bank.

"My sense is that there will be a mountain or two before we can move into initial steps," Taro Aso told reporters in Tokyo Friday.

North Korea was to have shut down its Yongbyon nuclear complex and accept international inspection in April under a February agreement with the other five members of the six-party talks on its denuclearization.

But the deadline passed as North Korean funds totaling about $25 million remained frozen at Macao's Banco Delta Asia SARL bank. The money was frozen in September 2005 after the United States blacklisted the bank, claiming it helped North Korea circulate counterfeit bills.

Since then, Macao authorities have unblocked the $25 million but North Korea has not yet received them because of what has been described as technical difficulties, the Kyodo news service reported.

Aso was quoted as saying that after the funds' release, North Korea may start making new requests to allow it to transfer them to financial institutions in other countries without being blacklisted.

[doc1019]

Duh!