North Korea was angry and quit Malay…Who is Moon Chul-myeong handed over to the US FBI?

The Associated Press reported on the 21st that Moon Cheol-myeong, 56, a North Korean businessman, who was handed over by the Malaysian government to the United States on charges such as money laundering, was detained by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the 20th (local time). Moon is accused of illegally exporting luxury goods to North Korea and laundering money from Southeast Asian regions such as Singapore and Malaysia.

Accordingly, US investigative authorities are expected to directly investigate North Korea’s illegal money laundering. It is the first time that the United States has secured North Koreans for trial, and it is also the first time that North Koreans have been exposed to the fact of looking into whether and how sanctions have been violated.

Earlier, Malaysian authorities handed over a recruit to the United States on charges of engaging in money laundering, etc., and North Korea rebelled against this and declared the severance of diplomatic relations with Malaysia on the 19th. Then, 33 people, including North Korean diplomats and their families, departed for Shanghai, China through Kuala Lumpur Airport on the 21st.

According to the AP, Moon argues that his arrest and confiscation of the United States were due to the US political purpose of exerting pressure on North Korea. Considering this, it is unclear whether Moon will disclose his’action’ to the US investigative authorities. Hyeon-jun Jeon, an adjunct professor at Kookmin University, said, “If the charges against Mr. Moon were true, he would have’action’ under a meticulous plan with the North Korean authorities. There is also a possibility,” he said. “It will be a battle between the United States, who open his mouth during the trial, and Mr. Moon, who is trying to protect it,” he said.

In the course of the trial, if he changes his mind and discloses the allegations, North Korea loses the’gap’ of sanctions against North Korea. On the contrary, from the standpoint of the United States, they look for a’smoking gun’ that can be locked by hanging the’back door’ of North Korea. It is pointed out that this is why North Korea revolts by mentioning’retaliation’ following the extreme option of diplomatic severance for the extradition of a new soldier.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a talk with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 19th that “(Mr. Moon’s delivery of recruits) is an absurd fabrication and a complete scheme,” and that it will “pay a price” to the US who requested the delivery of recruits. Some are also raising the possibility that North Korea, which has been watching and keeping silent even after the inauguration of the new administration of the United States, will start a military movement.

Most of all, the Biden administration, which was launched on January 20, is reviewing its North Korea policy at the final stage, and it is noteworthy what impact Moon’s recruitment will have. A former government official said, “As the US proposed contact with North Korea in February, it will approach with a two-track strategy that keeps diplomatic doors open and responds thoroughly to humanitarian issues and illegal activities.” “It is highly likely that they will engage in a conflict of powerful lectures by observing Moon’s investigation process and results, recognizing it as a result of the North Korean hostilities policy against North Korea,” he said.

Reporter Jeong Yong-soo [email protected]