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Australian ‘loyal agent of North Korea’ admits trying to broker sanctions-busting arms, energy deals
- South Korean-born Chan Han Choi pleaded guilty to contravening a United Nations sanction enforcement law in late 2017 by brokering the sale of goods
- He also admitted to contravening sanctions by brokering the sale of coal from North Korea to entities in Indonesia during the same period
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Agence France-Pressein Sydney
An Australian man once described as a “loyal agent of North Korea” pleaded guilty on Wednesday to attempting to broker arms, oil and coal deals for Pyongyang in breach of international sanctions aimed at choking off revenue to its nuclear and missile programmes.
South Korean-born Chan Han Choi, 62, was on trial in the New South Wales Supreme Court when he pleaded guilty to two of the seven charges against him, including allegations he sought to help provide North Korea with weapon sales.
Prosecutors withdrew the remaining charges – including those relating to weapons of mass destruction – and the jury was discharged. Choi had previously denied all charges.
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North Korea’s new ‘monster’ intercontinental ballistic missiles on show at military parade
North Korea’s new ‘monster’ intercontinental ballistic missiles on show at military parade
Court documents showed Choi, a civil engineer, pleaded guilty to contravening a United Nations sanction enforcement law in late 2017 by brokering the sale of goods including arms and refined petroleum on behalf of North Korea.
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He also admitted to contravening sanctions by brokering the sale of coal from North Korea to entities in Indonesia during the same period.
Australian public broadcaster ABC reported that none of the alleged transactions was successful.
“We’re very relieved that a more rational array of charges are now facing Mr Choi,” his lawyer Mark Davis told reporters outside court.
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