KUALA LUMPUR ¨C Over the past two decades, North Korean-born Han Hun Il, the founding chief executive of a Malaysian conglomerate, funneled money to the leadership in Pyongyang, a North Korean defector, speaking out for the first time, has said.
Han¡¯s conglomerate, Malaysia Korea Partners (MKP), worked in partnership with Jang Song Thaek, according to Lee Chol Ho, who worked as a trader for Han for nine years until he defected to Seoul in 2010. Jang, the uncle of North Korea¡¯s ruler Kim Jong Un, was considered one of North Korea¡¯s most powerful men until he was executed for treason in 2013.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm Lee¡¯s account of Han¡¯s relationship with North Korea¡¯s leadership, including his assertion that money was funneled to its leadership body, the Central Committee of the ruling Workers¡¯ Party.
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