North Korea sold Syria chemical weapons and Myanmar missile technology, UN claim
GETTY North Korea has been accused of helping Syria with its chemical weapons programme
Experts on a UN panel have uncovered shocking evidence which may reveal a new twist in the regimes criminal activities as cooperation with North Korean arms dealer is exposed. A UN member state said: “Technicians continue to operate at chemical weapons and missile facilities at Barzei, Adra and Hama.” There is “substantial new evidence” of at least three visits by North Korean technicians to the war-torn country in 2016, it was revealed. Syrian officials at the UN claimed the only North Korea officials within their borders were sporting officials.
Further evidence uncovered more than 40 unreported shipments from the hermit state to various shell companies operated by Syria’s chemical weapons programme. These undisclosed exports took place between 2012 and 2017. The Myanmar regime military, which has been accused of ethnic cleansing against its Rohingya minority, has also reportedly receive ballistic missile technology from Kim’s criminal officials. Like Syria, Myanmar, has reportedly been in contact with North Korea’s KOMID arms exporter.
Myanmar has received ballistic missile systems UN member state
A member state said: “Myanmar has received ballistic missile systems from North Korea in addition to a range of conventional weapons, including multiple rocket launches and surface-to air missiles.” The investigation showed Kim Jong-un’s diplomats help facilitate arms deals with the brutal regimes. As the evidence suggests sanctions are not working the panel suggested 2018 posed a “critical window of opportunity before a potential miscalculation with disastrous implications for international peace and security”.
PyeongChang 2018: N. Korean athletes check in to athletes' village Thu, February 1, 2018 Scheduled to take place from 9 to 25 February 2018 in Pyeongchang County, South Korea Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 20 North Korean Olympic team arrives in South Korea
It came after fears North Korea could retaliate to a limited “bloody nose” strike by launching all-out war and a chemical attack on Japan that could kill millions, an expert has warned. The US is “not kidding” about launching a targeted strike against military targets in Kim Jong-un’s prison state but such an attack could spark all-out war, Korea expert Sue Mi Terry warned. She said: "If North Korea retaliated in a massive way, unleashed chemical weapons in Japan and there were millions of casualties, I think it's going to be hugely problematic for the region, in terms of everybody's response and our relationship with all the regional powers.”
GETTY US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley holds photos of chemical weapons victims
The expert warned against relying on a limited response from Kim based on the assumption that the dictator will act rationally. Kim has fired off threats of launching attacks against his neighbours and boasted that his nuclear arsenal is capable of reaching the mainland US. Dr Terry said: "The danger here is that there are some folks who actually think when they're thinking about a limited military strike that Kim Jong-un might not retaliate or would just retaliate in a very limited way and that's going to take us back to the negotiating table. “There are people who actually make this argument, using Kim Jong-un's rationality as a reason. "The problem is, we do not know that. That's an assumption. I don't think anybody really knows what Kim Jong-un will or won't do.”
GETTY Myanmar's military has been accused of ethnic cleansing