To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the answer by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2 February (HL Deb, col 114), what assessment they have made of claims that significant amounts of dollars have been laundered through banks in Switzerland and Luxembourg by leaders of the North Korean regime. [HL1877]

The Government are not able to comment on matters of intelligence. However the Government play a leading role in international efforts against money laundering, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the EU Committee for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Finance.

It should also be noted that in 2009 the UK signed up to further sanctions against North Korea under UN Resolution 1874, placing restrictions on financial institutions providing services to North Korea and requiring enhanced vigilance by member states. While aimed at reducing the threat from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, such measures also serve to strengthen international anti-money laundering controls.