UN secret report: North Korea continues to violate sanctions

Against the backdrop of US attempts to renew nuclear agreements, the document revealed that Pyongyang is improving its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Despite the restrictions, North Korea has imported refined oil and exported hundreds of millions of dollars worth of coal -

UN secret report: North Korea continues to violate sanctions

(Video: Kim Jong Un pledges to continue developing nuclear weapons and introducing "new strategic weapons")

North Korea continued to improve its nuclear and ballistic missile programs last year, in violation of its sanctions - according to a UN secret report. According to the Reuters report, the isolated country illegally imported refined oil and exported coal In addition, UN inspectors claimed that North Korea conducted 13 missile tests last year, during which at least 25 short-range missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles were launched.

The 67-page report, pertaining to North Korea's operations and written by the UN Security Council, is due for publication only next month. It was written in light of the United States' attempts to renew nuclear agreements with Pyongyang.

"Korea's Democratic People's Republic has not stopped its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and has continued to improve them against UN Security Council resolutions," UN inspectors wrote. "Despite its extensive local capabilities, it uses illegal external procurement for certain components and technology."

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Violates the sanctions. Kim Jong Un (Photo: Reuters)

Kim Jong Un at a meeting of North Korean party officials, January 1, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

According to the report, Pyongyang exported 3.7 tonnes of coal between January and August 2019. "According to another country, most coal exports were carried out by shipments from North Korea's vessels to Chinese ships," the UN report said. These ships transported the coal to three ports in Guangzhou Bay as well as destinations along the Yangtze River in China.

In addition, the same country reported that Pyongyang exported at least one million tons of sand worth at least $ 22 million to China's ports. UN inspectors also added that North Korea continued to import illegally refined oil through ships. However, China insists its allies do not violate UN sanctions imposed on it.

The inspectors concluded that Pyongyang continued to carry out cyber attacks against financial institutions around the world. "These attacks resulted in financial losses, and provided illegal revenue for North Korea, as opposed to the economic sanctions," the report said. "Such moves are low risk, high reward, and are difficult to detect."

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Short-term missile trial in North Korea, September 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

North Korea's Short-Term Missile Trial in South Pyongyang Province - September 10, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006. Over the years, they have been strengthened by the Security Council, with the aim of cutting off funding for Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. UN inspectors say that millions of tons of goods have been exported in Chinese ships, North Korea Violates its limitations since 2017.

As of 2017, the annual import of refined oil into Pyongyang was limited to only 500,000 barrels. However, the United States reported that between January 1 and October 31 of last year, North Korea imported refined oil over the permitted quantity "many times."

From time to time, Russia and China, for their part, raised concerns about the possibility that the sanctions would hurt North Korean nationals, and expressed hope that relief from some restrictions could help close the impasse between Washington and Pyongyang. In contrast, the United States, France and the United Kingdom have argued that this is not the time to consider removing the sanctions.

Jung On and Donald Trump, June 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, June 30, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

Less than a month ago, North Korea announced that it was under no obligation to agree on a nuclear program signed with the United States, which included a halt to nuclear experiments and the firing of intercontinental ballistic missiles. Pyongyang officials said the reason was "cruel and inhumane" sanctions imposed by the United States. In addition, Pyongyang officials said that Washington had ignored the deadline for resuming talks - the end of 2019.

North Korean adviser to the UN delegation in Geneva, Joe Yung Chul, said in this connection to the Nuclear Disarmament Conference that "we have found no reason to be unilaterally linked to the commitment, with the other party not respecting it." He said, "If the United States persists in such a hostile economic policy against us, there will never be a disarmament of North Korea's nuclear weapons." The adviser added, "If Americans try to enforce unilateral demands and continue to impose sanctions, North Korea will have to look for a new way."