North Korea expands nuclear, missile arsenal: U.N. report

Pyongyang has pushed ahead with the development of its nuclear and missile programs despite international sanctions.

North Korea frequently fires off missiles amid frustration with western sanctions.

North Korea continues to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, including its capability to produce nuclear fissile materials, U.N. experts said in a new report.

What did the report say?

The annual report by independent sanctions monitors, submitted on Friday evening to the U.N. Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea, states that there was "marked acceleration'' of Pyongyang's testing. "Although no nuclear tests or launches of ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles) were reported, DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) continued to develop its capability for production of nuclear fissile materials," the panel wrote. "New technologies tested included a possible hypersonic guiding warhead and a maneuverable re-entry vehicle,'' it added. North Korea also demonstrated "increased capabilities for rapid deployment, wide mobility (including at sea), and improved resilience of its missile forces."

The report mentioned demonstrations of new short-range and possibly medium-range missiles through January in the North, "incorporating both ballistic and guidance technologies and using both solid and liquid propellants." The report also claimed cyberattacks on cryptocurrency exchanges were an important revenue source for North Korea and that the country "continued to seek material, technology and know-how for these programs overseas, including through cyber means and joint scientific research."

Pyongyang evades sanctions

The U.N. Security Council has long banned the North from conducting nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches. Since 2006, after its first nuclear test explosion, the country has been subject to U.N. sanctions. But in recent months, North Korea has launched a variety of weapons and threatened to lift the four-year moratorium on more serious weapons tests including nuclear explosions and ICBM launches. January saw a record nine missile launches.

North Korea remains able to evade sanctions and to illicitly import refined petroleum, access international banking channels and carry out "malicious cyber activities,'' the panel had previously warned. Pyongyang also continues to evade maritime sanctions "by deliberately obfuscated financial and ownership networks," the experts said.

mvb/wd (AFP, Reuters, AP)