(S/NF) KUDOS - REPORTING ON NORTH KOREAN FINANCE

S E C R E T STATE 037323 NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2034 TAGS: PINR CH SUBJECT: (S/NF) KUDOS - REPORTING ON NORTH KOREAN FINANCE (C-TN9-00118) REF: A. 2008 SHENYANG 000189 (DECEMBER 2008) ¶B. 2007 SHENYANG 000178 (SEPTEMBER 2007) ¶C. 2007 SHENYANG 00019 (JANUARY 2007) ¶D. 2006 SHENYANG 001086 (OCTOBER 2006) Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS WOULD LIKE TO CONVEY THEIR GREAT APPRECIATION FOR REPORTING ON NORTH KOREAN FINANCE. ANALYSTS GREATLY VALUE REPORTING ON FINANCIAL FLOWS ACROSS THE CHINESE/NORTH KOREAN BORDER, THE STATUS OF SPECIFIC CHINESE BANKS' RELATIONS WITH NORTH KOREAN CUSTOMERS, AND PAYMENT METHODS BETWEEN IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS ALONG THE BORDER. ADDITIONALLY, REPORTING ON THE USE OF THE US DOLLAR, RENMINBI, OR OTHER CURRENCIES IN TRADE TRANSACTIONS, AS WELL AS FORMAL AND INFORMAL CURRENCY EXCHANGE, INFORMS OUR ANALYSIS OF NORTH KOREAN FINANCIAL NETWORKS. REFERENCED REPORTS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY INFORMATIVE ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC. MANY THANKS, AND REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. CLINTON