U.S. and Taiwan (2009)

U.S. Department of State

Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
January 16, 2009

Treasury Designation of Taiwan Entities and Individuals

The Department of the Treasury designated, under Executive Order 13382 (E.O. 13382,) two Taiwan individuals and two entities in connection with attempting to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of North Korean entity Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID). These entities and individuals are Alex H.T. Tsai, Trans Merits Co. Ltd., Global Interface Company Inc. (formerly known as Trans Scientific Corp.), and Lu-chi-Su, also known as Lu-Chi Tsai Su. KOMID was designated by President Bush in the Annex of E.O. 13382 on June 28, 2005.

On June 19, 2008, Alex H.T. Tsai was indicted by Taiwan's Taipei District Prosecutors Office for illegally shipping restricted materials to North Korea. Trans Merits Co. Ltd., controlled by an Alex H.T. Tsai operated company, Global Interface Company Inc. (formerly known as Trans Scientific Corp.), shipped to North Korea items that could be used to support North Korea's advanced weapons program. Both Alex H.T. Tsai and Trans Merits Co. Ltd. were convicted in Taiwan in 2008.

Trans Merits Co. Ltd. and its parent company, Global Interface Company Inc., have also provided dual-use materials to other North Korean companies. These companies were designated for being owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Alex H.T. Tsai.

Lu-chi-Su, also known as Lu-Chi Tsai Su, has also been designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Alex H.T. Tsai, Global Interface Company Inc., and Trans Merits Co. Ltd. Lu-chi-Su is the wife of Alex H.T. Tsai, an officer in Global Interface Company Inc. and Trans Merits Co. Ltd.

Today's actions are a continuation of the U.S. Government's efforts to halt North Korea's involvement in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. This ability of North Korea to use this network to support its global procurement activities highlights North Korea's deceptive activities in the international commercial system and the risk associated with doing business with North Korea.

We regularly engage Taiwan authorities on the importance of preventing proliferation and will continue to work closely with them on improving their export controls.

For additional information on the designation, please visit: www.treasury.gov/press and www.usdoj.gov.

2009/059

Released on January 16, 2009