World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
North Korea condemns FATF decision to keep it on high-risk list
North Korea condemned the FATF for keeping it on a high-risk list for money laundering and terrorist financing.
The FATF, an international body that assesses countries’ efforts to fight financial crime, announced the decision on October 30.
North Korea has been on the list since 2011, alongside Iran and Myanmar.
Pyongyang said the designation was politically motivated and accused the United States and its allies of trying to demonize the country.
North Korea says it has changed its laws and taken steps to improve financial transparency, but argues the FATF has ignored those efforts.
The FATF’s list signals that countries should take action to address serious weaknesses in tackling money laundering and terrorist financing.
North Korea warned it would not tolerate attempts to harm its interests, but the statement did not name any specific next steps.
North Korea condemned the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for keeping it on the watchdog’s high-risk list.
The FATF kept North Korea in its top risk category, alongside Iran and Myanmar.
The watchdog said it remained concerned about North Korea’s deficiencies in preventing money laundering and terrorist financing and threats linked to weapons of mass destruction.
North Korea rejected the allegations and said the decision served the United States’ hostile policy toward it.
North Korea has been classified as high risk by the FATF since 2011.
- Who
- North Korea’s Foreign Ministry and the Financial Action Task Force.
- What
- North Korea condemned the FATF’s decision to keep it on the high-risk list.
- When
- The FATF made the decision in late October; North Korea responded on November 6, 2026.
- Where
- The FATF decision was made at a meeting in Paris. North Korea’s response was carried by the Korean Central News Agency.
- Why
- The FATF cited deficiencies in North Korea’s efforts to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing, and threats linked to weapons of mass destruction. North Korea said the designation had political motives.
North Korea
Financial Action Task Force
Basis for the designation
North Korea
The FATF said it remained concerned by North Korea’s “continued failure to address the significant deficiencies” in its defenses against money laundering and terrorist financing.
Financial Action Task Force
North Korea said allegations of money laundering, terrorist financing, drug trafficking and counterfeiting were fabricated for political purposes.
Political character of the decision
North Korea
The FATF said North Korea remained a high-risk jurisdiction and cited concerns about illicit activities tied to weapons of mass destruction.
Financial Action Task Force
North Korea called the FATF politicized and accused it of serving the United States’ hostile policy.
The FATF began categorizing North Korea as a high-risk jurisdiction.
North Korea said it had held several rounds of talks with the FATF and taken steps to amend domestic laws and improve financial transparency.
North Korea said it lost its observer status in the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering.
At a meeting in Paris, the FATF kept North Korea on its high-risk list.
North Korea condemned the FATF decision.
- FATF risk category
- High-risk jurisdiction subject to a call for action
- Countries named
- North Korea, Iran and Myanmar
- North Korea’s listing
- Classified as high risk since 2011
- FATF meeting
- Paris, in late October 2026
- North Korea’s response
- Condemned the decision on November 6, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
The FATF has turned into a conspiracy group and an extremely politicized organization serving the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK
The Foreign Ministry of the DPRK expresses strong displeasure
will never tolerate the slightest attempt to infringe upon the dignity, rights and interests of the state
continued failure to address the significant deficiencies