WORLD / Asia-Pacific
N.Korean money frozen to be unblocked
(AP/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-04-11 10:27
Macau's Monetary Authority said Wednesday that holders of North Korean
accounts frozen at a bank blacklisted by the United States can withdraw
or transfer their money.
The funds at the small Macao lender Banco Delta Asia have become a key
sticking point in six-party negotiations to close North Korea's nuclear
programs. The money was to be released last month, but disputes over the
accounts have stalled the process.
Wendy Au, a spokeswoman at Macao's Monetary Authority, told The
Associated Press that the money was ready to be handed over to the owners
of the accounts.
"The account holders, as long as they are authorized, can proceed to the
bank to withdraw or transfer the money," she said, without commenting
further.
A Treasury Department statement released by US Embassy in Beijing
Wednesday said the US understands that the Macao authorities are ready to
unblock all money frozen in the Banco Delta Asia in Macao.
It said that the US supports the decision to unblock the accounts.
In a deal struck in February, North Korea pledged to shut down its main
nuclear reactor by Saturday in exchange for energy aid and political
concessions.
North Korea had insisted that US$25 million (euro18.6 million) frozen at
Banco Delta Asia, blacklisted by Washington for allegedly helping the
North launder money, must be released before it closes its Yongbyon
reactor.
BDA will try its best to accomodate its account holders' requests, the
bank's spokesman Joe Wong said. He said he did not know whether any of
the frozen funds were withdrawn yet.
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