Press Statement from Spokesperson of North Korea NCC for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism

Pyongyang, Oct. 3 (KCNA) — A spokesperson for the DPRK National Coordination Committee (NCC) for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism issued the following press statement on October 3:

The Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering has decided to strip the DPRK of its observer position at the 26th APG General Meeting, held in the United Arab Emirates on September 24.

The reason why North Korea joined the group as an observer was to clearly demonstrate that it has nothing to do with all kinds of crimes, including money laundering and incitement to terrorism.

North Korea’s transparency was objectively and fully demonstrated by the sincere implementation of its obligations, including its accession to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime in 2016 and the amendment and supplementation of its domestic anti-money laundering legislation and combating the financing of terrorism after joining the group.

The group that indulged and followed the US hostile policy towards the DPRK to deprive the DPRK of its normal right to development at any cost has continuously turned its face away from the sincere efforts and transparent measures taken by the DPRK.

In particular, the group has labeled the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as a “state subject to countermeasures” every year since 2011 under pressure from the US, which has baselessly labeled the country the “money laundering criminal state” and the “state sponsor of terrorism” . and has forced other countries to ban all financial transactions with the DPRK.

The group’s decision to deprive the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of its observer position is an inevitable consequence of the US’s hostile policy, which sees independent and just sovereign states as a thorn in the side.

This proves that the group, which was supposed to promote the healthy development of international relations and regional peace and security, has turned into a mouthpiece playing into the hands of the US eager to achieve world domination.

We do not regret not having interacted with the group that has been reduced to a political tool of the US

The DPRK has and will continue to take a consistent, principled position against money laundering and terrorist financing. -0-