The United Nations is investigating possible violations of its sanctions on North Korea in about 20 countries, ranging from allegations of clandestine nuclear procurement in China to arms brokering in Syria and military cooperation with Iran, Libya and Sudan.
A 66-page report to the UN Security Council, obtained on Monday by Associated Press, also detailed the appearance in North Korea of a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Mercedes-Benz limousines and Lexus LX 570 all-wheel drive luxury vehicles in violation of a ban on luxury goods.
The UN Security Council passes a sanctions resolution against North Korea in 2017. Photo: AP
And it noted a trend in North Korea’s evasion of financial sanctions “of using cyberattacks to illegally force the transfer of funds from financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges.”
The report’s executive summary, which was obtained in early February, said North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes “remain intact” and its leaders are dispersing missile assembly and testing facilities to prevent “decapitation” strikes.
The full report said “the Yongbyon nuclear complex remained active,” noting that satellite imagery through to November showed excavation of water channels and construction of a new building near the reactors’ water discharge facilities. Satellite imagery also “indicates possible operation of the radiochemical laboratory and associated steam plant,” it said.
The country is working “to disperse its assembly, storage and testing locations” for ballistic missiles, the report said, and using “previously idle or sprawling military-industrial sites as launch locations”.
The panel that drew up the report said it was continuing to investigate two Chinese companies on the UN sanctions blacklist – Namchogang Trading Corp. and Namhung Trading Corp. – and associated front companies and their representatives “for nuclear procurement activities.”
The panel said it is also currently surveying the world’s manufacturers of nuclear “choke point” items such as “pressure transducers,” focusing on their end-use delivery verification methods.
A ballistic missile of the type that has been developed by North Korea. Photo: AP
Multiple investigations “into prohibited activities” between North Korea and the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad are also being conducted, the report said.
These include Syrian nationals reported to be engaged in arms brokering on behalf of North Korea “to a range of Middle Eastern and African states, reportedly offering conventional arms and, in some cases, ballistic missiles, to armed groups in Yemen and Libya”. They also include North Koreans working for sanctioned “entities” and for Syrian defence factories.
An unidentified country had informed the report’s authors that Iran “was one of the two most lucrative markets” for North Korean military cooperation and that both the Korea Mining Development Trading Corp. and Green Pine Associated Corp. offices in the country “are active.” The unnamed country also indicated that North Koreans in Iran were being used as cash couriers, the report said.
The Iranian government replied to the panel that the only North Koreans in the country were diplomats, and they have not violated UN sanctions, the report said.
The panel said it is continuing investigations into “multiple attempts at military cooperation” between North Korea and various Libyan authorities and sanctioned “entities” and foreign nationals working on their behalf. There are also ongoing investigations into military cooperation projects between North Korea and Sudan, including information on activities involving a Syrian arms trafficker and technology for “anti-tank and man-portable air defence systems.”
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Report to UN names China for sanctions violations
