North Korea has racked up sizable debt in parking tickets, according to a new investigative report.
The country’s diplomatic mission to the United Nations racked up over 1,300 unpaid New York City parking tickets, dating back to the 1990s.
Under a 2002 memorandum of understanding between New York City and the State Department, the city has the authority to withhold diplomatic parking decals if a vehicle accumulates three or more unpaid tickets. However, a majority of North Korea’s parking debt occurred before 2002 when the nation’s diplomatic vehicles routinely accrued parking violations with no punishment.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration says parking tickets prior to 2002 are not forgiven and that the debts owed by diplomatic delegations must still be paid.
According to an investigation from NBC New York, Pyongyang still owes the city over $156,000 in unpaid parking tickets. However, Jong Jo, secretary of North Korea’s UN mission, disputes the charges.
“It is false. Whenever we have a ticket, we pay. Because, you know, if we have three tickets the city does not allow us to renew their permission,” Jo said.
The State Department says the Trump administration is taking alleged parking abuses seriously but is cautioning police to handle the matters delicately as any perceived mistreatment of consular personnel could effect how American diplomats are treated overseas.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that police handling of incidents in this country could have a direct effect on the treatment of US diplomatic and consular personnel serving abroad,” the State Department said in a statement Wednesday.
North Korea isn’t alone in its scofflaw status when it comes to unpaid New York City parking tickets. China and Syria hold over $300,00 in unpaid parking tickets, while Russia has just over $100,000. Iran also owes the city $184,987 in unpaid parking fees.
It is unclear at this point if any diplomatic drivers have had their licenses suspended or any other disciplinary action has been taken.
