Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HANOI2239
2006-09-01 06:21:00
SECRET
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:  

NORTH KOREAN BANKING: MFA NERVOUS IN THE FACE OF

Tags:  EFIN KTER ECON IO PREL NK VM 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHHI #2239 2440621
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 010621Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3255
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6758
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 2222
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5563
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0710
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2977
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
S E C R E T HANOI 002239 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND EAP/K

E.O. 12958: DECL: KOREAN REUNIFICATION
TAGS: EFIN KTER ECON IO PREL NK VM
SUBJECT: NORTH KOREAN BANKING: MFA NERVOUS IN THE FACE OF
PRESS STORIES

REF: REF A: SECSTATE 105317 REF B: HANOI 1594 REF C:
HANOI 1595

Classified By: CDA Jon Aloisi, Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

S E C R E T HANOI 002239

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS AND EAP/K

E.O. 12958: DECL: KOREAN REUNIFICATION
TAGS: EFIN KTER ECON IO PREL NK VM
SUBJECT: NORTH KOREAN BANKING: MFA NERVOUS IN THE FACE OF
PRESS STORIES

REF: REF A: SECSTATE 105317 REF B: HANOI 1594 REF C:
HANOI 1595

Classified By: CDA Jon Aloisi, Reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (S) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials contacted
us August 31 to request clarification of Treasury
Undersecretary Stuart Levey,s itinerary during his trip to
the Asia Pacific region in July 2006. Econoff provided MFA
officials with this information, which U/S Levey had already
shared with them during his trip. In further discussion, the
MFA official implied that the open press play on Vietnam,s
compliance with U.S. requests to shut down North Korean bank
accounts has become an unsettling issue, which now has the
attention of very senior levels within the Government of
Vietnam (GVN). That the inquiry came from the MFA America's
Desk and not the State Bank of Vietnam, our primary
interlocuter to date on this issue, suggests that further
cooperation will require closer scrutiny at higher levels.


2. (S) Comment: Post believes that a shift in quote ownership
unquote of this issue within the GVN could prove
constructive, providing of course that the GVN determines in
the end that cooperation to isolate and limit the activities
of a dangerous DPRK enhances Vietnam,s national security.
At this stage, Post would welcome a demarche from Washington
that would have us: underscore our appreciation for steps
taken by Vietnam so far; clarify that we did not seek public
discussion on this issue; but emphasize that Vietnam,s
actions are part of a broad international campaign which
serves all our interests. End Comment.
CHARGE:ALOISI