“The first case of North Koreans repatriated to the US”
1.7 billion money laundering in Malaysia
North Korea declares break-up with Malay
North Korea’s reaction to US repatriation
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The US Ministry of Justice officially confirmed the repatriation of the North Korean citizen Moon Chul-myeong (55), who was handed over from Malaysia to money laundering charges on the 22nd (local time). As a North Korean citizen was repatriated to the United States for the first time, the political impact is expected to be inevitable.
The US Department of Justice said in a press release that “after nearly two years of legal proceedings, Moon Chul-myeong, a North Korean citizen, was repatriated to the United States,” and “the first case of a North Korean citizen being surrendered to the United States.” Furthermore, from April 2013 to November 2018, Mr. Moon violated sanctions against North Korea by the United States and the United Nations as an accomplice and fraudulent access to the U.S. financial system, exceeding $1.5 million (about KRW 1.7 billion). He said he was involved in money laundering.
In addition, Mr. Moon explained that money laundering was part of a plan to procure luxury goods from North Korea, saying that he is linked with the Reconnaissance Office, which is subject to sanctions by the United States and the United Nations. At the same time, Moon and his accomplices tried to avoid being caught by mobilizing a pseudonym account and company to hide the facts that North Korea was involved, and in this context, he added that the US bank made dollar transactions with North Korea.
The United States showed a strong attitude over the repatriation of the first North Korean citizens.
According to the Voice of the United States (VOA) report, John Dimmers, Assistant Secretary for National Security at the Ministry of Justice, said on the day, “The prosecution pointed out the allegations of cheating banks and laundering money in order to evade anti-proliferation sanctions imposed by the United States and the United Nations on North Korea. “We will continue to use our broader laws to protect Americans from sanctions avoidance and other national security threats.”
“The Washington DC Federal Attorney’s Office will protect the US financial system and will always be ready to pursue anyone who wants to violate our laws, no matter where they hide,” said Acting Federal Attorney Channing Phillips, Washington, DC.
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Moon, who had previously worked in Malaysia, was charged with six charges including money laundering in May last year, and was arrested by the Malaysian authorities at the request of the US government in the same month. The Malaysian court approved the FBI’s request for repatriation of Mr. Moon in December last year, and this month the Supreme Court rejected Mr. Moon’s request to dismiss the extradition of US recruits. US media such as’AP’ reported that Moon was detained in Washington, DC by the FBI on the 21st.
As a result, North Korea declared a break with Malaysia on the 19th for the repatriation of North Korean nationals and set the day that the United States would pay the price. In fact, more than 30 people, including local embassy staff and their families, withdrew from Malaysia, and the website of the Malaysian embassy in North Korea is now closed.
/ Reporter Kim Hye-rin [email protected]
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