US raises concern over increasing North Korean activities in Nepal

Voicing concern over growing business activities of rth Koreans in Nepal, US has asked Nepal government t to entertain rth Koreans in country stating that Nepal as a member of UN should respect decision taken by global body to impose sanctions on country.

Mark Lambert, special US envoy for rth Korea, who is on a three-day visit to Nepal, me this appeal to lawmakers, senior government officials and ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Himalayn Times reported Saturday.

He expressed concerns about growing business activities of rth Koreans in Nepal. 

He also expressed fear that rth Koreans might have been using Nepal as a base to commit cyber crimes, a lawmaker, who met Lambert, was quoting as saying.

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In meeting Lambert told lawmakers that UN Security Council has placed sanctions on rth Korea, and Nepal, as a member country, should respect this decision, daily said.

Nepal became a member country of UN in 1955. UN has imposed a number of sanctions on rth Korea after country started developing nuclear weapons, in violation of UN charter. 

"Nepal is a member of UN and it has obligation to follow resolutions passed by UN Security Council, said US Embassy Spokesperson Andie De Arment, who confirmed that Lambert was in Nepal to discuss growing activities of rth Koreans in country.

Lambert met four lawmakers Pabitra Niraula Kharel, Deepak Prakash Bhatta, Dibya Mani Rajbhandari and Sarala Kumari Yav, during his visit.

Kharel is chairperson of parliamentary International Relations Committee, while or three are members of same panel. Lambert also met NCP Co-chair Dahal.

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Earlier, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo h also raised rth Korean issue during Nepal Foreign Minister Preep Kumar Gyawali's visit to US in December.

issue was also raised by David J Ranz, acting deputy assistant secretary for US State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, during his visit to Nepal in May.