UN accuses North Korea of violating sanctions by providing arms to Syria, Burma

Pyongyang, July 3 (ANI): North Korea is continuing to violate UN sanctions by attempting to ship arms to Syria and Burma, and illegally importing luxury goods, according to a UN report.

The UN panel that made the report found 'ample evidence' that North Korea continued to defy measures in the resolutions, citing 'elaborate techniques' used in several interceptions of banned goods.

"Nevertheless, although the resolutions have not caused the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to halt its banned activities, they appear to have slowed them and made illicit transactions significantly more difficult and expensive," the report said.

According to The Telegraph, the 74-page report to the United Nations Security Council committee monitoring sanctions did not mention about any violations involving nuclear, chemical or biological weapons or ballistic missiles.

The Security Council had imposed sanctions against North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006 and stepped up sanctions after its second test in 2009 to try to derail the country's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

A diplomat at North Korea's UN mission, however, rejected the accusations.

"In principle, we don't recognise the panel of experts, because we reject the resolution it was founded on and have never acknowledged the group's reports," he said.

The report cited several cases of attempted shipments of arms-related material to Syria and Burma.

Illegally imported luxury goods included tobacco, bottles of sake, second-hand pianos and several second-hand Mercedes Benz cars, the report said. (ANI)