DPRK FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES: JAPAN AWARE OF POSSIBLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000100 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2016 TAGS: EFIN PARM KNNP PREL PGOV KN CH JA SUBJECT: DPRK FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES: JAPAN AWARE OF POSSIBLE CHINESE BANK INVOLVEMENT REF: STATE 01477 Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., Joseph R. Dovonan. Reasons 1. 4 (B) (D). ¶1. (C) Japan is aware that Chinese banks may be involved with North Korea, given their close geographic proximity to the DPRK, MOF International Bureau Legal Office official Shunichi Fukushima told Embassy financial attache January 9 in response to reftel demarche. Fukushima expressed thanks for the information and said he would share it with the appropriate parties. ¶2. (C) Separately, Embassy political officer delivered reftel demarche January 9 to MOFA Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Northeast Asia Deputy Director Yutaka Kashiwabara. Kashiwabara, who was in the midst of preparations to accompany MOFA Director General Kenichiro Sasae to meetings with State Department officials in Washington, said that Sasae would review the demarche while en route to the United States and would be prepared to discuss the issue with U.S. officials. DONOVAN