North Korea may recall ambassador to Switzerland by year-end
- Sources say ambassador Han Tae-song may have been involved in the illegal trade of elephant tusks and rhino horns through deals in four African countries
- North Korea has been considering replacing some of its ambassadors, with removing the Swiss envoy a top priority possibly to avoid a probe into sanctions evasion, sources add
North Korea may recall its ambassador to Switzerland later this month, sources familiar with the matter have said, following allegations that the envoy was involved in illicit trades of parts of African wild animals for money evading UN-imposed sanctions against Pyongyang.
The suspicions have prompted a United Nations Security Council-related panel to launch a fact-finding investigation regarding involvement by the ambassador, Han Tae-song, in the trade of elephant tusks and rhino horns, the sources said.
Ivory and rhino horns are valued components in Chinese medicine and command high prices. North Korea is believed to engage in illicit trades of these materials as a covert means of obtaining foreign currencies.
While the North Korean government is considering replacing some of its ambassadors globally, removing the Swiss ambassador has been a top priority for Pyongyang, possibly to avoid an investigation into sanctions evasion, the sources said.
Han, along with Yi Kang-dae, an intelligence official from North Korea, is suspected of being involved in such smuggling activities, according to a letter sent last month from the panel to Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
The panel operates under a council committee and monitors activities that may involve the evasion of anti-Pyongyang sanctions imposed by the primary mandate of the world body.
In the letter dated November 10, the panel requested the four African countries provide information on the two North Korean officials by Friday, including banking transactions and identification details.
