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.