N. Korea exported RM1bil illegally, say experts

NEW YORK: North Korea illegally exported coal, iron and other commodities worth at least US$270mil (RM1.13bil) to China and other countries, including India and Sri Lanka, in the six-month period ending in early August in violation of UN sanctions, UN experts say.

The experts monitoring sanctions said in a report released on Saturday that Kim Jong-un’s government continues to flout sanctions on commodities as well as an arms embargo and restrictions on shipping and financial activities.

They said North Korea was also reportedly continuing prohibited nuclear activities with weapons-grade fissile material production at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, construction and maintenance at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, and at a uranium mine in Pyongsan.

The eight-member panel of experts said it is also investigating the widespread presence of North Koreans in Africa and the Middle East, particularly in Syria, “including their involvement in prohibited activities”.

The experts said one inquiry is into “reported prohibited chemical, ballistic missile and conventional arms cooperation” between Syria and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the country’s official name.

They said this includes activities on Syrian Scud missile programmes and “maintenance and repair of Syrian surface-to-air missiles (SAM) air defence systems”.

The panel noted that two unnamed countries reported intercepting shipments destined for Syria. It did not identify the contents and said Syria has yet to respond to its inquiries.

The 111-page report was written before North Korea’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test last Sunday and its latest launch of a powerful new intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan.

It was made public two days before the United States has called for a vote on a new sanctions resolution.