Zokwang Trading
Encyclopedia
Zokwang Trading Company is a North Korea
n state-run import-export business based in Zhuhai
, China
. It is reportedly controlled by Room 39
, a secret department of the government of North Korea
.
Zokwang Trading are not on the official list of North Korean companies published by the DPRK portal site Naenara
.
, then a colony of Portugal
, soon after the new Portuguese government installed by the Carnation Revolution
established diplomatic relations with North Korea
. North Korean government officials and other sources state that the company engages in legitimate business transactions, purchasing cigarettes, food, liquor, televisions, and luxury goods for shipment to Pyongyang. However, police long had suspicions about Zokwang's activities.
Kim Hyon Hui
, one of the agents who carried out the bombing of 1987 Korean Air Flight 858
, stated in her autobiography Tears of my Soul that prior to the bombing, she and her partner Kim Sung-il
had used Zokwang Trading's office as a base while living in Macau
, learning Cantonese so that she and other North Korean agents could pose as Macau or Hong Kong locals. In 1994, the United States government also made accusations that Zokwang Trading were engaged in arms sales and other illegal technology transfer. Later that year, the Macau police raided Zokwang Trading, and discovered counterfeit United States currency
in the amount of hundreds of dollars. In 2005, Zokwang Trading's accounts with Macanese banks Banco Delta Asia
and Seng Heng were closed at the request of US financial regulators; sometime the following year, they moved across the border to Zhuhai.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n state-run import-export business based in Zhuhai
Zhuhai
Zhuhai is a prefecture-level city on the southern coast of Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in the Pearl River Delta, Zhuhai borders Jiangmen to the northwest, Zhongshan to the north, and Macau to the south. Zhuhai was one of the original Special Economic Zones...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It is reportedly controlled by Room 39
Room 39
Room 39 is a secretive Democratic People's Republic of Korea government organization that seeks ways to maintain the foreign currency slush fund of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il....
, a secret department of the government of North Korea
Government of North Korea
The North Korean government is the executive branch of the state, according to the Constitution of North Korea. In practice, the highest decisions are made by the National Defence Commission of North Korea which is led by its Chairman Kim Jong-il....
.
Zokwang Trading are not on the official list of North Korean companies published by the DPRK portal site Naenara
Naenara
The Naenara, literally "my country" in Korean is the official web portal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea . The portal's categories include politics, tourism, music, foreign trade, arts, press, IT Industries, history, and "Korea is One"....
.
History
Zokwang Trading was founded in 1974 in MacauMacau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, then a colony of Portugal
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
, soon after the new Portuguese government installed by the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
established diplomatic relations with North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. North Korean government officials and other sources state that the company engages in legitimate business transactions, purchasing cigarettes, food, liquor, televisions, and luxury goods for shipment to Pyongyang. However, police long had suspicions about Zokwang's activities.
Kim Hyon Hui
Kim Hyon Hui
Kim Hyun-Hui is a former North Korean operative responsible for the Korean Air Flight 858 bombing in 1987, which killed 115 people.- Early life :...
, one of the agents who carried out the bombing of 1987 Korean Air Flight 858
Korean Air Flight 858
Korean Air Flight 858 was a scheduled international passenger flight between Baghdad, Iraq, and Seoul, South Korea that exploded in mid-air on 29 November 1987 after two North Korean agents planted a bomb in the passenger cabin...
, stated in her autobiography Tears of my Soul that prior to the bombing, she and her partner Kim Sung-il
Kim Sung-Il
Kim Sung-Il is a former Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force. He was born on August 24, 1948, and attended the Korea Air Force Academy and National Defence University of Korea...
had used Zokwang Trading's office as a base while living in Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, learning Cantonese so that she and other North Korean agents could pose as Macau or Hong Kong locals. In 1994, the United States government also made accusations that Zokwang Trading were engaged in arms sales and other illegal technology transfer. Later that year, the Macau police raided Zokwang Trading, and discovered counterfeit United States currency
Counterfeit United States currency
Counterfeiting of the currency of the United States is widely attempted. According to the United States Department of Treasury, an estimated 70 million counterfeit dollars are believed to be in circulation, or approximately $1 in counterfeits for every $12,500 in genuine currency.-Historical...
in the amount of hundreds of dollars. In 2005, Zokwang Trading's accounts with Macanese banks Banco Delta Asia
Banco Delta Asia
Banco Delta Asia is a Macao-based bank owned by the Delta Asia Financial Group and founded in 1935 by Au Wing Ngok, father of Stanley Au, the current chairman and majority shareholder. It the 10th largest bank in Macao with eight branches and 150 employees.In March 2007, the U.S. Treasury ordered...
and Seng Heng were closed at the request of US financial regulators; sometime the following year, they moved across the border to Zhuhai.