WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The U.S. is strengthening efforts to cut North Korea off from the international financial system, senior Obama administration officials said on Wednesday. The officials said they are prepared to reengage in discussions with North Korean officials, but they said they are demanding complete denuclearization from the country.
"We're not really interested in halfway measures," one official said.
| If that's true, then good for Bambi. It's time to turn the screws on the Norks. |
The U.S. along with the United Nations already has enacted sanctions against North Korea, taking steps including freezing the assets of firms suspected of aiding the country in pursuing its nuclear ambitions. U.S. officials now are encouraging countries and businesses to avoid doing business with North Korea, alleging it engages in deceptive practices to shield the true motivations of its transactions.
"It's virtually impossible to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate North Korea business," a senior Obama administration official said. |