The latest reports from the UN Security Council committee that monitors the implementation of sanctions against North Korea show that the regime has been evading the measures,... and has continued its development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Lee Seung-jae has more on the latest report.
The UN Security Council committee that monitors sanctions implementation against North Korea,... has assessed that North Korea's recent missile tests are designed to support its development of intercontinental ballistic missiles,... underscoring the ongoing threat posed by the regime.
The panel report covers the February to August period,... and comes as negotiations between Pyeongyang and Washington have stalled since the no-deal summit in Hanoi.
In particular, the UN experts noted the significance of recent short-range ballistic missile tests by North Korea, which Trump has dismissed as "very standard."
According to the UN report,... the new class of short-range ballistic missiles launched on May 4th and 9th, as well as two missiles described by the North as a "new-type tactical guided weapon" launched on July 24th,... are evidence of the regime's ability to master key components of ballistic missile systems.
These include solid rocket fuel production, mobility through the use of different types of transporter erector launcher, and the capacity to penetrate ballistic missile defense systems.
To further support their case,... the UN experts note that regular activity has been observed at ICBM bases close to the northern border.
The latest assessment by the UN panel of experts also notes that the North's nuclear program continues to operate,... despite the absence of nuclear testing,... and the closure of the Punggye-ri test site.
It added that continued operations at the Yongbyon uranium enrichment facility and the uranium concentration complex and mining sites in Pyongsan were observed.
The rocket launch site located in Dongchang-ri,... which North Korea began to dismantle after the first Kim-Trump summit,... also appears to have been restored.
Aside from the progress on their weapons program,... North Korea has shown progress in its cyber attacks as well.
The report indicates North Korea's engagement in multiple cyber attacks on both financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges,... as well as the mining of cryptocurrency.
Such moves allow the North to evade financial sanctions by engaging in theft which circumvents the ability of UN member states to freeze and prevent the transfer of assets.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.