BEIJING, March 15 (UPI) -- China said Thursday it regretted the U.S. decision to ban all transactions with Macau-based Banco Delta Asia.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury banned the bank from doing business in the United States or for U.S. businesses to interact with the bank as it was accused of money laundering for North Korea. The Treasury said that Banco Delta Asia helped North Korea's trade in counterfeit U.S. dollars, as well as cigarettes and narcotics.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters, "We express deep regret that the U.S. is insisting on using U.S. domestic law to apply a ruling on Banco Delta Asia."
As countries continue to negotiate with North Korea to coax it to freeze nuclear facilities, Pyongyang has indicated the lifting of financial sanctions was one issue it would press for.
But there has been no immediate reaction from the North Korean authorities over the latest U.S. decision.
