Sept. 8 (UPI) — North Korea has been able to conduct multiple tests of ballistic missiles and carry out nuclear tests because it is able to circumvent loosely enforced sanctions, according to a South Korean television network.
MBC reported Friday the Kim Jong Un regime may be combining sophisticated methods of evading sanctions with a lack of commitment to sanctions enforcement, on the part of some countries, to earn as much as $265 million annually.
According to the United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea and its panel of experts, not enough is being done among U.N. member states to implement sanctions.
The committee arrived at the conclusion after studying the situation from late 2016 to the beginning of August 2017, according to the report.
Sanctions are being loosely enforced while North Korea’s sanctions-evading techniques are improving, the committee said.
The lack of implementation is undermining the Security Council’s attempts to pressure North Korea.
From late 2016 to the beginning of the last month, North Korea was able to export coal, iron and zinc, although the products are banned under sanctions resolutions.
North Korea exported $270 million of its natural resources to China during that period of time, according to the report.
The U.N. report also says investigation is ongoing into whether Korea Mining Development Trading Corp., or KOMID, was involved in the development of a Syrian science research center.
KOMID may be linked with the development of ballistic missiles and chemical weapons.
The U.N. committee also pointed out North Korea has handled the training of police and military in African countries, including Angola and Uganda.
North Korea may be involved in the development of Syria’s surface-to-air Scud missiles.
Banks that appear to be operated by Chinese companies may also be owned by North Korea, according to MBC.
The panel of experts added some bank accounts in China, Singapore and the Middle East are operated by North Korean intelligence agencies.
