US sanctions 2 Singapore firms, individual over North Korea

In this July 21, 2018, file photo U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks with members of the media in Buenos Aires, Argentina. AP-Yonhap

The United States on Thursday sanctioned two Singapore-based firms and an individual over their alleged money laundering on North Korea's behalf.

The Department of the Treasury said it is targeting Wee Tiong, a commodities trading company, WT Marine, a marine fuels company, and Tan Wee Beng, a Singaporean national who serves in senior positions in both firms.

The designations are the latest action taken by the U.S. to enforce United Nations sanctions on North Korea and squeeze the regime into giving up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

"Tan Wee Beng and his co-conspirators made deliberate efforts to launder money through the U.S. financial system on behalf of North Korea," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "The U.S. government will not overlook these deceptive practices. We are deeply committed to the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, and Treasury will continue to enforce and implement sanctions until that time."

Tan, 41, is accused of conducting millions of dollars in commodities contracts for North Korea, together with at least one other individual and dating back to at least 2011.

The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed criminal charges against him the same day.

An arrest warrant for Tan was issued by the federal court of the Southern District of New York in August, according to an FBI notice that lists Tan under "Most Wanted."

This "Wanted Poster" obtained from the FBI on October 25, 2018, shows Singapore businessman Tan Wee Beng, 41. US prosecutors unveiled charges on October 25, 2018, against Tan Wee Beng, once lauded as a leading young entrepreneur alleging he illegally laundered millions of dollars in funds for North Korea. AFP/FBI-Yonhap

He is charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by doing business with North Korean proliferation entities, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

The Treasury said Tan made a "concerted effort to obfuscate payment origins and structure transactions to avoid regulatory scrutiny," and also "knew of and took efforts to evade financial sanctions on North Korea."

When a wire payment was rejected, Tan and Wee Tiong "orchestrated payment in bulk cash, hand-delivered to a North Korean."

WT Marine is closely related to Wee Tiong, and two of its vessels ― the JW JEWEL and NYMEX STAR ― last year engaged in illicit economic activity linked to the North Korean regime, the Treasury said.

The sanctions freeze the property or interests of the designated entities, vessels and person within the U.S.

American citizens are also generally banned from dealing with them.

Singapore was the site of the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June. The two agreed that North Korea would work toward "complete" denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S.

Negotiations to implement the deal have stalled.

Still, a second summit has been in the works, with many expecting it to happen early next year. (Yonhap)

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