North Korea conducts tests at the reactor site: UN report

NEW YORK – North Korea recently conducted tests at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, according to a draft UN report received from Nikkei.

The tests took place between December 2020 and February of this year, according to a draft report from an expert panel of the UN Sanctions Committee for North Korea, which reports to the UN Security Council.

The report paints a picture of Pyongyang as it continues to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs despite the deterioration in its economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also highlights the rampant smuggling in North Korea despite the UN economic embargo as the country’s elite seize luxury goods.

The draft report was presented to the committee on Thursday. Nikkei received the report ahead of its scheduled September release. The final report will be published after discussion and amendment by the Security Council. The results could serve as the basis for new sanctions against individuals or organizations who have violated Security Council resolutions.

According to the draft report, activity in the Yongbyon complex via infrared and other images was detected between December 2020 and February 2021, which the report suggests indicates that “some testing has taken place”.

The report notes that “the external construction of a light water reactor appears to be complete” and that “the installation of machinery is likely underway”. However, it adds that the 5 MW reactor – the oldest in the facility – has shown no signs of operation since 2018.

North Korea continues to export coal despite Security Council resolutions. Between February and May of this year, at least 364,000 tons of coal were transported in at least 41 shipments on North Korean ships to the Ningbo-Zhoushan region near Shanghai, the report said. Ship-to-ship oil smuggling continues to take place at sea.

According to a resolution of the Security Council, North Korean oil imports are limited to 500,000 barrels per year, and according to official figures the country had only exhausted 4.75% of the quota by mid-July and “will likely exceed the upper limit in 2021”. The closure of North Korean borders due to the pandemic has halted most consumer goods imports, but luxury goods are still coming through.

North Korea smuggles car tires and parts, construction and interior trim materials and accessories for the family mansion of North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un, according to the draft report.

The panel found that Chinese companies were involved in smuggling luxury vehicles worth $ 1 million, including Lexus LX570 SUVs.

North Korea also remains active in online theft of funds and technology. The country “continues to run spear-phishing campaigns against the cryptocurrency industry,” said the draft report, without disclosing the amount North Korea has raised.

A panel report published in March found that North Korea stole $ 316.4 million through hacking by cryptocurrency operators in 2019 and 2020.

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