U.S. lists N. Korea's Dongbang Bank for illicit arms trade: Treasury Dept.

By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, April 19 (Yonhap) -- The United States Tuesday blacklisted a North Korean bank for its alleged involvement in arms trade banned under U.N. resolutions adopted after the North's nuclear and missile tests in 2009 and U.S. domestic laws to implement the resolutions.
The Treasury Department said in a statement that it has designated "North Korean financial institution Bank of East Land (Dongbang Bank) for its facilitation of weapons-related transactions for, and other support to, designated arms manufacturer and exporter Green Pine Associated Corporation (Green Pine)."
Green Pine was blacklisted in August when U.S. President Barack Obama issued Executive Order 13551 to sanction several more North Korean entities and North Korean citizens, including Office 39 of the North's ruling Workers' Party, which is believed to manage slush funds for North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, for their involvement in weapons of mass destruction and other activities banned by U.N. resolutions.
The order, issued in retaliation to North Korea's torpedoeing of a South Korean warship, brought to more than 20 the number of North Korean entities and individuals under trade restrictions with the U.S. Forty-six sailors died in the attack.
The Treasury Department accused Dongbang Bank having "facilitated transactions involving Green Pine and designated Iranian financial institutions, including Bank Melli and Bank Sepah."
The Iranian banks have already been designated for their involvement in Iran's missile and other arms transactions. Tehran is also prohibited from engaging in transactions of weapons of mass destruction under U.N. resolutions.
hdh@yna.co.kr