N. Korean reps in Macao arrested

N. Korean reps in Macao arrested

MACAO (UPI): North Korea's two top representatives in Macao were among six people arrested earlier yesterday on suspicion of passing fake one-hundred-dollar bills, police sources said.

Five North Koreans, along with one a man from Macao, were arrested after a raid on more than a dozens apartments in the Portuguese territory. One of the suspects was carrying a diplomatic passport, but police refused to identify him.

Pak Ja-byong and Kim Sok-chil, both directors of government- run North Korean companies in Macao, were among the men arrested, police said.

Portugal, including Macao, is one of the few western nations which maintain political and economic ties with North Korea.

Police said more than $250,000 bogus one-hundred-dollar bills have been discovered, many of which were deposited in bank accounts held by North Korean citizens or companies in Macao.