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RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE PRIORITY 2206
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RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001947 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2016 
TAGS: EFIN CTERR ECON IO PREL KN VM
SUBJECT: SBV DEPUTY GOVERNOR DETAILS NORTH KOREAN BANKING 
ACTIVITIES IN VIETNAM 
 
REF: A. REF A) SECSTATE 105317 
     ¶B. REF B) HANOI 1594 
     ¶C. REF C) HANOI 1595 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michael W. Marine, Reasons 1.4 (b/d) 
 
¶1. (S) Summary: In a July 19 meeting with State Bank of 
Vietnam (SBV) Deputy Governor Tran Minh Tuan, Treasury Under 
Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart 
 
SIPDIS 
Levey reiterated U.S. concerns over North Korean financial 
transactions with Vietnam,s State-owned commercial banks and 
asked whether the SBV had found evidence of these 
interactions.  Tuan affirmed that the Government of Vietnam 
(GVN) and SBV are committed to preventing disruptions to 
national stability and are actively working to preclude money 
laundering or terrorist finance activities from occurring in 
their banking system.  An SBV-directed survey of all 
Vietnamese bank accounts, based on information provided to 
them earlier by Post (reftel), determined that Tanchon 
Commercial Bank holds accounts at two Vietnamese banks, 
though the balance in each is minimal.  No other financial 
interactions between the DPRK (individuals or entities) and 
Vietnamese banks were found.   U/S Levey urged the SBV to 
advise both banks to close the accounts as facilitating such 
activity would pose substantial and unwarranted risks for 
these institutions, and given the recent UNSCR 1695 and 
previous resolutions 1540 and 1673, Vietnam was obligated to 
ensure they did not facilitate DPRK WMD activity. In response 
to Under Secretary Levey,s further request, Deputy Governor 
Tuan committed to begin a new investigation immediately into 
efforts by a North Korean bank to establish a relationship 
with the Eastern Asia Commercial Bank in Ho Chi Minh City. 
End Summary. 
 
Tuan Details SBV Policies and Actions Taken 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (S) U/S Levey, accompanied by the Ambassador, began the 
meeting by highlighting the shared commitment of our 
countries to the issues of anti-money laundering, countering 
terrorist financing and preventing banks from being abused by 
criminals and weapons proliferators.  He voiced the USG 
concern that North Korean banks, specifically Tanchon 
Commercial Bank and Daedon Bank, currently hold accounts with 
Vietnamese State-owned commercial banks.  Tanchon has been 
designated by the US as a DPRK WMD proliferator and the 
international community has called on all states to ensure 
such entities are not supported.  The U/S asked what actions 
the SBV has taken to address these concerns, and how they are 
ensuring that Vietnamese banks are not being exploited by 
North Korea or others to facilitate their illicit activities 
) including WMD proliferation.  The USG is willing to help 
the GVN and SBV to resolve this issue and avoid impeding the 
broader development of our bilateral relations. 
 
¶3. (S) Tuan thanked the USG for providing the SBV with 
information about suspected North Korean illicit activities, 
and said that the GVN and SBV take these warnings very 
seriously.  Citing the SBV,s policy to contribute to 
maintaining an environment of peace and stability in the 
country, he affirmed that SBV will not tolerate any financial 
activity that threatens or harms the stability of Vietnam or 
the world.  Tuan highlighted Vietnam,s international 
cooperation with other UN member countries on the issues of 
anti-money laundering; countering terrorist financing; 
preventing the financing of WMD proliferation activities; 
and, other non-transparent financial transactions. 
 
¶4. (S) Tuan noted that although Vietnam has a &traditional8 
relationship with North Korea, recent economic, trade and 
financial relations between the two have not been very 
robust.  Regardless of their traditional ties with the DPRK, 
the GVN,s and SBV,s primary concern is to diligently follow 
up any suspected illicit financial transactions.  In response 
to USG concerns, the SBV issued guidelines and directives for 
all banks to report to the SBV on any accounts held by North 
Korean banks and other individuals and organizations 
identified in ref A. 
 
Two North Korean Bank Accounts Identified 
----------------------------------------- 
 
 
HANOI 00001947  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶5. (S) Two institutions )- Vietcombank and the Military Bank 
-- reported holding accounts for Tanchon Commercial Bank. 
Tanchon opened its account at Vietcombank in 1992, but 
account transactions have not been significant. (Tuan 
estimated the total amount to be between USD 3000 and USD 
5000).  He noted that the Tanchon account held at the 
Military Bank was used as an intermediary for transactions 
through Deutsche Bank.  Although he did not provide a figure, 
Tuan explained that this account balance is also negligible. 
Vietnamese banks reported no additional accounts held by 
Daedon Bank, or other North Korean banks, suspicious 
individuals or suspected front companies. 
 
¶6. (S) Tuan affirmed that despite the small account balances, 
the SBV has warned Vietcombank and the Military Bank that 
continuing to facilitate transactions by Tanchon Commercial 
Bank is of great concern to the USG.  Both banks have 
indicated their intention to &consider8 the matter. 
 
The Risk of Inaction 
---------------------- 
 
¶7. (S) U/S Levey warned that the nominal commercial benefits 
of maintaining these accounts does not seem worth the risk to 
the banks and the Vietnamese banking sector writ large.  In 
the spirit of friendship, he expressed concern that the 
reputation of the Vietnamese banking and financial sector 
could be threatened by connections to North Korean banks and 
institutions.  Because Tanchon Bank financially facilitates 
the DPRK missile program, continued relationships by 
Vietcombank and the Military Bank with Tanchon could be found 
to be in violation of UNSC Resolution 1695.  The USG is 
taking a strong position on this issue, and we hope that it 
can be resolved without hampering the tremendous advances in 
other areas of our bilateral relationship. 
 
Counterfeit Money 
----------------- 
 
¶8. (S) In response to U/S Levey,s question about the 
presence of counterfeit U.S. dollars in Vietnam, Deputy 
Governor Tuan said that, &of course there are counterfeit 
dollars in Vietnam,8 but the amount is insignificant, i.e., 
a few series.  The SBV has directed all commercial banks to 
report all counterfeit notes, and in return it informs the 
commercial banks when it becomes aware of the existence of 
counterfeit money.  Tuan agreed with the Under Secretary,s 
request to inform the USG when the SBV finds counterfeit 
dollars.  U/S Levey warned that North Korea has the 
capability to produce a high quality counterfeit U.S. dollar 
known as the &supernote.8 
 
Eastern Asia Commercial Bank ) SBV,s Earnest Response 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶9. (S) The USG believes a North Korean bank is seeking a 
relationship with the Eastern Asia Commercial Bank in Ho Chi 
Minh City, U/S Levey continued.  He requested that the SBV 
conduct an investigation similar to those carried out for 
Tanchon and Daedon Commercial Banks, which Tuan agreed to 
begin the following day.  Tuan asked for additional 
information on this and other DPRK related matters, and 
promised his staff will share the findings of their 
investigations with the Embassy. 
 
¶10. (U) This message was cleared by Treasury staff. 
 
 
 
 
MARINE 
MARINE