A bribe is designed to influence the recipient's conduct and is illegal and unethical. It is merely a promise to influence the action in an official or public capacity. It might be acceptable to accept direct payment in North Korea, but it is not in the US. So as it is unethical in the US and as a whole. I would not make the payment. I would explain that the direct payment transaction must be recorded in the company's financials. Such a transaction amounts to bribery and fraud, where both the parties involved are committing a criminal offense. According to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, these violations will lead to substantial civil and criminal penalties. An individual under the anti-bribery provisions may face a criminal fine which may extend up to $250,000 per violation, including five years of imprisonment.

thiughts on this