The Chinese government and banking officials refused to comment Monday on a report the Bank of China had frozen its North Korean accounts because of Pyongyang's alleged illegal financial activities.
"If we have an answer we will tell you, if we don't have an answer we won't tell you," a Bank of China spokesman surnamed Miao told AFP, refusing to comment further.
China's foreign ministry also declined to comment on the issue when contacted by AFP, with a spokeswoman referring queries to the Bank of China and the central bank.
She declined to answer a question about whether the government would have had any role in ordering a freeze on North Korean accounts.
An official with the international affairs department of the People's Bank of China, the central bank, also had no information.
"We haven't heard about this. You should call the Bank of China," said the official, who refused to be named.
According to South Korean legislator Park Jin, the Bank of China has frozen North Korean accounts in response to a US-led crackdown on Pyongyang's alleged illegal financial activities.
The move was tantamount to China's imposition of sanctions on its long-time ally, Park, a key member of the main opposition Grand National Party told reporters.
"I understand North Korea is even more frustrated because it regards the freezing of its accounts in China as virtual sanctions," he said in an interview with the Munhwa newspaper that was published Monday.
