North Korea developing nuclear weapons, evading sanctions in 2023: UN report
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North Korea continued developing nuclear weapons and producing nuclear fissile material in 2023 and evading UN sanctions.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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UNITED NATIONS – North Korea continued developing nuclear weapons and producing nuclear fissile material in 2023, and evading United Nations sanctions that aim to cut off funding for Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, according to an unpublished UN report seen by Reuters on Thursday.
“After a record-breaking level of cyber thefts in 2022, estimated at US$1.7 billion (S$2.3 billion), DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) hackers reportedly continued to successfully target cyber cryptocurrency and other financial exchanges globally,” independent sanctions monitors wrote in the report to a UN Security Council committee.
The monitors, who report to the council twice a year, have previously accused North Korea of using cyber attacks to help fund its nuclear and missile programmes. North Korea has denied allegations of hacking or other cyber attacks.
North Korea’s mission to the UN in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.
Earlier on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un replaced the military’s top general and called for more preparations for the possibility of war,
North Korea has been under UN sanctions for its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes since 2006. Those measures have unanimously been strengthened over the years, but the 15-member body is now deadlocked as China and Russia push for them to be eased to convince Pyongyang to return to denuclearisation talks.
The UN sanctions monitors said hackers working for North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau, its primary foreign intelligence agency, “continued to use increasingly sophisticated cyber techniques to steal funds and information”.
“Companies in the cryptocurrency, defence, energy and health sectors were targeted in particular,” they wrote in the executive summary of the report, which is due to be published in the coming weeks. “The DPRK continued to access the international financial system and also engaged in illicit financial operations.”
The monitors reported continued illicit exports of coal and “a rich variety of sanctions evasion measures deployed by vessels delivering refined petroleum products to DPRK”. North Korea also acquired 14 new vessels, in violation of sanctions.
“Although the country’s borders remain largely closed, trade volumes increased, mainly because of resumption of rail traffic. A large variety of foreign goods has quickly reappeared,” wrote the monitors, adding that they continued to investigate illicit imports of luxury goods.
The monitors said they are also investigating alleged North Korean exports of military communications equipment and ammunition, as well as “possible cases of sales by DPRK of arms or other types of military support to member states”. REUTERS
