SKorea pinpoints 20 illegal NKorean bank accounts

By KWANG-TAE KIM, Associated Press Writers – 1 hr 23 mins ago

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea has informed the U.S. of up to 20North Korean bank accounts suspected of being involved in counterfeiting, money laundering and other illegal transactions, a news report said Wednesday.

The move came as Washington considered punishing the North with its own financial sanctions apart from proposed U.N. sanctions. Seven key nations neared agreement on a new U.N. resolution that would toughen sanctions against North Korea for defying the Security Counciland conducting a second nuclear test.

South Korea gave the U.S. the information on some 10 to 20 North Korean bank accounts in China and Switzerland at Washington's request, South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported, citing an unidentified government official.

Separately, South Korea's Finance Ministry has imposed sanctions on three North Korean companies for helping the country's April 5 long-range rocket test. The move was largely symbolic because the firms don't do business with South Korea.