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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| No evidence Nork's Yongbyon reactor has been shut down as promised |
| 2007-04-28 |
| From Geostrategy-Direct, subscription. U.S. intelligence agencies monitoring the North Korean nuclear facility at Yongbyon have seen no signs that Pyongyang is following through on the deal reached in Beijing to shut down the facility. Surprise, surprise. The official dismissed news reports in Asia that said activity at the Yongbyon facility was a sign that North Korea was preparing to follow through on its promise to close the facility and invite back International Atomic Energy Agency monitors. "They are just scurrying about to fool us into that they are really doing what they promised." North Korea suspended its agreement in Beijing to dismantle the Yongbyon facility after the United States refused to release money frozen under Treasury Department sanctions in MacaoÂ’s Banco Delta Asia. The funds, about $24 million, were eventually released by Treasury officials, but Chinese banking officials have balked at releasing the money over concerns that doing so might lead to additional Treasury sanctions under the U.S. Patriot Act, which allows the U.S. government to punish banks and financial institutions involved in money laundering and other activities that could support terrorists. We released the money? Is there no end to US Govt stupidity? |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |
| #4 Since the Norks are making such a predictable stink over 24 M, can we sieze their assets at the rate of one M per day of delays? |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-04-28 17:30 |
| #3 Steve, everyone wants to cover their own a** on this one, so that in the end, when the 'shooting' starts, there's accountability. The NORKS want 'plausible deniability' by accepting the withdrawal through a 'blackhole network', the Chicoms want a 'real person' to come 'a callin'. The US sits back in the catbird seat ready to blame either party when the drop is baited and taken, with whatever resulting effects. |
| Posted by: smn 2007-04-28 03:05 |
| #2 Hmmm, Chinese won't release the funds even though we did. Ya know, it's almost like it's a conspiracy or something ... |
| Posted by: Steve White 2007-04-28 02:43 |
| #1 What?!! The US doesn't have one person with a flag on his sleeve or lapel, that can exchange the 24 million in a briefcase without an intermediary? The NORKS in my opinion won't reverse course with or without the moola; my advise to the US...send it to the victims of Katrina and quietly began 'loading for bear'! |
| Posted by: smn 2007-04-28 02:35 |