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Two North Korean shipments to Syria intercepted in six months, UN told
Source: The Guardian
Two North Korean shipments to Syria intercepted in six months, UN told
Security council reportedly investigating suspected chemical and conventional arms cooperation between two countries
Martin Chulov Middle East correspondent
Tuesday 22 August 2017 16.52 BST
Two shipments from North Korea destined for the Syrian government agency responsible for chemical weapons have been intercepted in the past six months, according to a report provided to the United Nations security council in early August.
The report, which was revealed by Reuters on Tuesday, said both shipments were caught in the past six months. Syria’s chemical weapons programme is one of the most sensitive sectors of the Assad regime.
International observers said the shipments represented attempts to bolster outlawed weapons programmes in both countries and deepen a decades-long alliance in defiance of rigid international sanctions.
The report did not specify what the shipments contained. However, the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre has long been custodian of the state’s most sensitive secrets, including nuclear research, as well as ballistic missiles and and an air defence programme. It has maintained close ties to the Korea Mining Development Trading Company (KOMID), which was blacklisted by the UN security council eight years ago.
-snip-
Security council reportedly investigating suspected chemical and conventional arms cooperation between two countries
Martin Chulov Middle East correspondent
Tuesday 22 August 2017 16.52 BST
Two shipments from North Korea destined for the Syrian government agency responsible for chemical weapons have been intercepted in the past six months, according to a report provided to the United Nations security council in early August.
The report, which was revealed by Reuters on Tuesday, said both shipments were caught in the past six months. Syria’s chemical weapons programme is one of the most sensitive sectors of the Assad regime.
International observers said the shipments represented attempts to bolster outlawed weapons programmes in both countries and deepen a decades-long alliance in defiance of rigid international sanctions.
The report did not specify what the shipments contained. However, the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre has long been custodian of the state’s most sensitive secrets, including nuclear research, as well as ballistic missiles and and an air defence programme. It has maintained close ties to the Korea Mining Development Trading Company (KOMID), which was blacklisted by the UN security council eight years ago.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/22/two-north-korean-shipments-to-syria-intercepted-in-six-months-un-told