North Korea’s complete disregard for United Nations sanctions earned the country nearly $200 million by exporting ban commodities in just nine months last year.
A UN report issued on Friday accused Pyongyang of working with Syria to develop chemical and ballistic weapons, along with Myanmar.
The report found there was more than 40 previously unreported North Korea shipments between 2012 and 2017 to Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Centre – the body which is responsible for the country’s chemical weapons program.
It also found North Korea continued to make money through exporting coal, iron, steel and other commodities which are banned under the UN sanctions between January and September last year.
Coal shipments were delivered to a number of countries, including China, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia and Vietnam by ship using ‘a combination of multiple evasion techniques, routes and deceptive tactics,’ the report found.
North Korea’s complete disregard for United Nations sanctions earned the country nearly $200 million by exporting ban commodities last year
The United States has pushed hard to increase sanctions on North Korea as Pyongyang continues to pursue its aim to develop nuclear weapons
Last year, the UN Security council voted to impose a number of stricter sanctions and expand exports banned with the aim of cutting of North Korea’s military programs.
The United States pushed for tougher economic sanctions against North Korea after its sixth nuclear test and a host of ballistic missile launches which Pyongyang claimed could reached US mainland.
The panel found North Korea ‘is already flouting the most recent resolutions by exploiting global oil supply chains, complicit foreign nationals, offshore company registries, and the international banking system’.
Experts have said more needs to be done to clamp down on North Korea’s flouting of international sanctions, despite seven ships being barred from ports around the world.
While sanctions have been significantly broadened, this ‘expansion of the regime is yet to be matched by the requisite political will’ to implement the measures, the experts said.
North Korean diplomats, in particular trade representatives, continue to provide logistical support for arms sales and help organize exchanges for military technicians, it said.
North Korea was working in tandem with Syria to produce chemical and ballistic weapons, the report warned. Pictured: Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad
Coal piled up in Rason, North Korea is seen in November, 2017; shipments of the commodity were delivered to China, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia and Vietnam in 2017, flouting UN sanctions