Flynn Reached Uruguay, What of Senegal Whose Gadio's Indicted, Venezuela PR with SG?

By Matthew Russell Lee, Periscope

UNITED NATIONS, December 1 – With Michael Flynn pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his call to Russia's Kislyak about the UN Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements in December 2016, Inner City Press has reviewed its first-hand reporting on and around that December 23 vote. Venezuela's Ambassador Rafael Ramirez, now rumored to be out, bragged that the US under Samantha Power only asked that the vote be delayed to 2 pm. ICP story here. (Today December 1, though not on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' schedule, Guterres met and took UN photos with Ramirez, here). Uruguay's affable deputy Luis Bermudez took Flynn's call. But what of the other co-sponsor, Senegal, whose ex foreign minister Cheikh Gadio has been indicted for bribery at the UN? We'll have more on this - and on continuing consideration of Samantha Power's mass unmasking and hypocrisy on Yemen and Press freedom. Watch this site. After a lull, North Korea fired a ballistic missile on November 28. US President Trump was briefed while it was still in the air, his spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said- making it a successful launch. The UN Security Council had a previously scheduled 3 pm meeting about foreign terrorist fighters, and now one on North Korea at 4:30 pm on November 29. At 3 pm, entering the prior Security Council meeting about Lebanon, the Council's president for November Sebastiano Cardi said that no written proposal for an outcome of the meeting has been circulated. French Ambassador Francois Delattre spoke again of tightening existing sanctions. Periscope video of both, and interstitial fill, here. In the morning he said, "On North Korea, the two key words are full implementation of the existing sanctions, and there is still some margin here, and tightening of the sanctions. So we are working along these lines." Earlier on November 29 US President Trump tweeted, "Just spoke to President XI JINPING of China concerning the provocative actions of North Korea. Additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be handled!"  This gave rise to a question to UN Security Council president Sebastiano Cardi, who asked, "The President?" There was laughter. Inner City Press tweeted video here.Earlier still on November 29, the US White House announced that "President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China to discuss North Korea’s latest missile launch.  President Trump underscored the determination of the United States to defend ourselves and our allies from the growing threat posed by the North Korean regime. President Trump emphasized the need for China to use all available levers to convince North Korea to end its provocations and return to the path of denuclearization." At 12:30 pm Korean time (10:30 pm in New York), KCNA confirmed: ""Kim Jong Un, Supreme Leader of our Party, state and army, gave an autographic order to test-fire the newly developed inter-continental ballistic rocket Hwasong-15 on Nov. 28, Juche 106." Now, as to November 28, the Council's outgoing president Italy says, "we will meet again at 3 pm to hold closed consultations on 1701 report (Lebanon). USG Lacroix and Deputy Special Coordinator in Lebanon Philippe Lazzarini are the confirmed briefers in consultations. At the end of this meeting, we will move to the Open Chamber to discuss the issue of nuclear non-proliferation regime in relation to Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The briefers will be Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi, as Chair of the Sanctions Committee 1718." So will the Netherlands take over that Committee when they assume Italy's Council seat on January 1? Feltman gave a speech on November 28 at CFR what was supposed to be live-streamed but apparently wasn't. It ends with a whimper. Trump spoke with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and issued this read out: "President Donald J. Trump spoke today with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan to address North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile that impacted within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone.  The two leaders agreed that the North Korean regime’s provocative actions are undermining its security and further isolating it from the international community.  The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to combat the North Korean threat." There will be a meeting on North Korea on November 28. This, from the US Mission to the UN: "Ambassador Haley and her counterparts from Japan and the Republic of Korea have requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting to be held in the open chamber in response to North Korea’s latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile. The Security Council session will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, November 29, around 4:30 p.m. EST." During the November 28 meeting on foreign fighters, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued this: "The United States strongly condemns North Korea’s launch of what is likely an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, indiscriminately threatening its neighbors, the region and global stability. The DPRK’s relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them must be reversed.  Together the international community must continue to send a unified message to North Korea that the DPRK must abandon its WMD programs.  All nations must continue strong economic and diplomatic measures.  In addition to implementing all existing UN sanctions, the international community must take additional measures to enhance maritime security, including the right to interdict maritime traffic transporting goods to and from the DPRK. The United States, in partnership with Canada, will convene a meeting of the United Nations Command Sending States to include the Republic of Korea and Japan and other key affected countries to discuss how the global community can counter North Korea’s threat to international peace.  Diplomatic options remain viable and open, for now.  The United States remains committed to finding a peaceful path to denuclearization and to ending belligerent actions by North Korea." Amid talk of increased enforcement of sanctions on North Korea - including now U.S. President Trump putting the country back on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list -  the US Comptroller of the Currency has "rescued" a Japanese bank from a sanctions violation investigation, see below, including Inner City Press' scoop on no-notice. North Korea responded on November 22, verbally, putting on KCNA that “by re-listing DPRK as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism,’ the U.S. openly revealed to the whole world its intention to destroy our ideology and system by using all kinds of means and methods. Our army and people are full of rage and anger toward the heinous gangsters who dared to put the name of our sacred country in this wretched list of ‘terrorism’ and are hardening their will to settle all accounts with those gangsters at any time in any way." On November 21, the US sanctioned these: The following individual has been added to OFAC's SDN List:

SUN, Sidong, Liaoning, China; DOB 11 May 1976; POB Dandong, China; Gender Male; Passport G55296890 (China) issued 15 Sep 2011 expires 14 Sep 2021; National ID No. 210623197605112215 (individual) [DPRK4].

The following entities have been added to OFAC's SDN List:

DANDONG DONGYUAN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. (a.k.a. DANDONG DONGYUAN INDUSTRIAL CO.; a.k.a. DANDONG DONGYUAN INDUSTRY CO., LTD.), No. 34-7, Zhenba Street, Zhenxing District, Dandong 118001, China; Rm 3002 No 99 3 1 Binjiang Middle Rd, Zhenxing District, Dandong, China; D-U-N-S Number 542957624 [DPRK4].

DANDONG HONGDA TRADE CO. LTD., China; Room 301, No. 1 Building, Business & Tourist Section, Dandong, Liaoning, China [DPRK4].

DANDONG KEHUA ECONOMY & TRADE CO., LTD. (a.k.a. DANDONG KEHUA ECONOMIC AND TRADE CO. LTD.), China; Room 102, 1/F, Antai Garden, Zhenxing District, Dandong, Liaoning 118000, China [DPRK4].

DANDONG XIANGHE TRADING CO., LTD. (a.k.a. DANDONG XIANGHE TRADING CORPORATION; a.k.a. DANDONG XIANGHE TRADING LTD. CO; a.k.a. XIANGHE TRADE CO., LTD.), China; No. 603, 2F, Jiadi Square, Developing Zone, Dandong, Liaoning, China; Beida Rd., Pingxiang City, Chongzuo, Guangxi 532600, China; Room 703, No. 7 Building, Fangba, Yanjiang Development Zone, Dandong, China [DPRK4].

DAWN MARINE MANAGEMENT CO LTD, Changgyong 2-dong, Sosong-guyok, Pyongyang, Korea, North; Nationality of Registration Korea, North; Company Number 5926921 [DPRK4].

KOREA DAEBONG SHIPPING CO, Ansan 1-dong, Pyongchon-guyok, Pyongyang, Korea, North; Nationality of Registration Korea, North; Company Number 5145243 [DPRK4].

KOREA KUMBYOL TRADING COMPANY (a.k.a. KUMBYOL TRADING; a.k.a. KUMBYOL TRADING COMPANY OF NORTH KOREAN WORKERS' PARTY), Pyongyang, Korea, North [DPRK4].

KOREA RUNGRADO RYONGAK TRADING CO, Pulgunkori 2-dong, Potonggang-guyok, Pyongyang, Korea, North; Nationality of Registration Korea, North; Company Number 5787653 [DPRK4].

KOREA RUNGRADO SHIPPING CO, Pulgunkori 1-dong, Potonggang-guyok, Pyongyang, Korea, North; Nationality of Registration Korea, North; Company Number 1414592 [DPRK4].

KOREA SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION CORPORATION (a.k.a. NAM NAM GENERAL CORPORATION; a.k.a. NAM-NAM (SOUTH-SOUTH) COOPERATIVE GENERAL COMPANY), Central District, Pyongyang, Korea, North; China; Russia; Poland [DPRK3].

MARITIME ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (a.k.a. MARITIME ADMINISTRATION BUREAU), Pyongyang, Korea, North [DPRK3].

MINISTRY OF LAND AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (a.k.a. MINISTRY OF LAND AND MARINE TRANSPORT), Korea, North [DPRK3].

YUSONG SHIPPING CO, Uiam-dong, Taedonggang-guyok, Pyongyang, Korea, North; Nationality of Registration Korea, North; Company Number 5146578 [DPRK4].

The following vessels have been added to OFAC's SDN List:

7-28 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8898831 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: YUSONG SHIPPING CO).

JANG GYONG Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8203933 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: DAWN MARINE MANAGEMENT CO LTD).

KANG SONG 1 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 6908096 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: KOREA KUMBYOL TRADING COMPANY).

KU BONG RYONG Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8983404 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: KOREA KUMBYOL TRADING COMPANY).

KUM SONG 3 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8661850 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: DAWN MARINE MANAGEMENT CO LTD).

KUM SONG 5 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8661719 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: DAWN MARINE MANAGEMENT CO LTD).

KUM SONG 7 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8739396 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: DAWN MARINE MANAGEMENT CO LTD).

KUM UN SAN 3 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8705539 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: DAWN MARINE MANAGEMENT CO LTD).

PU HUNG 1 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8703933 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: KOREA RUNGRADO SHIPPING CO).

RAK RANG Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 7506118 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: KOREA DAEBONG SHIPPING CO).

RUNG RA 1 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8713457 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: KOREA RUNGRADO RYONGAK TRADING CO).

RUNG RA 2 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9020534 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: KOREA RUNGRADO RYONGAK TRADING CO).

RUNG RA DO Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8989795 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: KOREA RUNGRADO SHIPPING CO).

RYE SONG GANG 1 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 7389704 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: KOREA KUMBYOL TRADING COMPANY).

SO BAEK SAN Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8658267 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: KOREA KUMBYOL TRADING COMPANY).

WON SAN 2 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9159787 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: YUSONG SHIPPING CO).

YANG GAK DO Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 6401828 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: KOREA RUNGRADO SHIPPING CO).

YU SONG 12 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9096791 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: YUSONG SHIPPING CO).

YU SONG 7 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8400854 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: YUSONG SHIPPING CO).

ZA RYOK 2 Democratic People's Republic of Korea flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 8898738 (vessel) [DPRK4] (Linked To: YUSONG SHIPPING CO).

The following deletions have been made to OFAC's SDN List:

QASEM, Talat Fouad; DOB 02 Jun 1957; alt. DOB 03 Jun 1957; POB Al Mina, Egypt; Propaganda Leader of ISLAMIC GAMA'AT (individual) [SDT].

Trump on November 20 said, "Today, the United States is designating North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.  It should have happened a long time ago.  It should have happened years ago. In addition to threatening the world by nuclear devastation, North Korea has repeatedly supported acts of international terrorism, including assassinations on foreign soil. As we take this action today, our thoughts to turn to Otto Warmbier, a wonderful young man, and the countless others so brutally affected by the North Korean oppression.  This designation will impose further sanctions and penalties on North Korea and related persons, and supports our maximum pressure campaign to isolate the murderous regime that you've all been reading about and, in some cases, writing about. Tomorrow, the Treasury Department will be announcing an additional sanction, and a very large one, on North Korea.  This will be going on over the next two weeks.  It will be the highest level of sanctions by the time it's finished over a two-week period. The North Korean regime must be lawful.  It must end its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile development, and cease all support for international terrorism -- which it is not doing." Inner City Press then asked UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq if this meant the UN's World Property Organization would stop helping North Korea with cyanide patents. It's just a US thing, he said. So's this: a November 13 letter from the New York State Department of Financial Services cites Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi for “continuing compliance failures in Hong Kong, which has a 'repeat transaction' program for certain high risk clients in Chinese cities bordering North Korea. The repeat transaction program results in not more but less scrutiny of these clients transactions.” The NYSDFS letter also notes that BTMU has processed transaction through its New York branch for “Burmese parties” on the OFAC sanctions list. How did Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi react to the New York regulator's investigation of these issues? It applied on October 30 to switch to the more lax Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and had its application approved in a mere week, then threw the state regulators out of its New York branch on Sixth Avenue. All this just a few blocks from the United Nations whose Security Council, on which Japan has a seat until the end of the year, has imposed rounds of sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear weapons program, and was set to vote for a new UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, or Burma, on November 16. What's going on? Now Inner City Press can exclusively report a further outrage, not included in the NYSDFS letter nor a Wall Street Journal article which quoted it. The OCC gave its approval in a week even while belatedly listing Bank of Tokyo - Mitsubishi's filings under "THESE APPLICATIONS APPEARED INCORRECTLY IN A PRIOR WEEKLY BULLETIN." Photo here; link to Bulletin here. The public, as is the trend under the OCC, was cut out. The face savings compliance agreement, here, does not cure or address this. The OCC is lax not only in sanctions compliance and absurdly short comment periods on corporate applications - it also markets itself to banks as being “flexible” on other compliance issues including the U.S. Community Reinvestment Act. Recently the OCC announced that even a rare less than satisfactory CRA rating would not bar approval of a bank's application, click here for that Inner City Press coverage. A new Comptroller, Joseph Otting formerly of OneWest Bank, is set to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate this week, even while the OCC has refused to answer a pending Press (and CRC) request under the Freedom of Information Act. A lawsuit has now been filed. What will a FOIA request into the OCC's communications with Bank of Tokyo - Mitsubishi yield? Watch this site.