North Korea has said it will not return to the talks until the money frozen in a Macau-based bank is safely back in its hands. The United States had frozen the funds, accusing North Korea of money-laundering.
U.S. envoy Christopher Hill said today the transfer is not a diplomatic but a banking issue. “The North Koreans made very clear, until they see their money in their bank account, they are not going to proceed with discussions in the six-party talks," Hill said.
Hill also said it was unclear when the talks will resume.
(AFP)
The Proliferation Threat
The Arak heavy-water plant in central Iran (Fars)
BENDING THE RULES. Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, told an RFE/RL-Radio Free Asia briefing on January 9 that the West is hamstrung in dealing with Iran and North Korea because of the way it has interpreted the international nonproliferation regime to benefit friendly countries like India and Japan.
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