North Korea developed nuclear, missile programmes in 2020, UN report says

Name: North Korea’s new ‘monster’ intercontinental ballistic missiles on show at military parade
Uploaded: 2021-02-08T23:49:33.000Z
Duration: 2 min 49 s
Description: North Korea’s new ‘monster’ intercontinental ballistic missiles on show at military parade

The confidential document says Pyongyang ‘produced fissile material’ and ‘upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure’ in violation of international sanctions

According to the report, ‘it is highly likely that a nuclear device’ could be mounted on the country’s long-range, medium-range and short-range missiles

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A photo provided by the North Korean government in August 2017 shows what was said to be the test launch of a Hwasong-12 intermediate range missile in Pyongyang, Photo: KCNA via AP

Reuters

Published: 7:49am, 9 Feb 2021Updated: 9:59pm, 9 Feb 2021

North Korea maintained and developed its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes throughout 2020 in violation of international sanctions, according to a confidential United Nations report seen by Reuters on Monday.

The report by independent sanctions monitors said Pyongyang “produced fissile material, maintained nuclear facilities and upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure” and continued to seek material and technology for those programmes from abroad.

The annual report to the Security Council’s North Korea sanctions committee comes just weeks after US President Joe Biden took office. A State Department spokesperson said on Monday the administration planned a new approach to North Korea, including a full review with allies “on ongoing pressure options and the potential for any future diplomacy”.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and former US president Donald Trump met three times in 2018 and 2019, but failed to make progress on US calls for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons and North Korea’s demands for an end to sanctions.

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North Korea’s new ‘monster’ intercontinental ballistic missiles on show at military parade

In the past year, North Korea displayed new short-range, medium-range, submarine-launched and intercontinental ballistic missile systems at military parades, the UN report said.

The UN report said an unnamed member state had assessed that, judging by the size of North Korea’s missiles, “it is highly likely that a nuclear device” could be mounted on to long-range, medium-range and short-range ballistic missiles.