This past week, the United Nations released information stating that North Korea had been illegally selling chemical weapons to Syria. According to a key diplomat at the UN, North Korea sent acid-resistant tiles, valves and thermometers to in numerous packages over the past five years to bolster Syria’s chemical program.
This report violates the sanction treaties placed upon North Korea in the past decade. Part of those sanctions mandate a cessation to arms dealing to other countries as the official explains, “The Security Council has required the DPRK (North Korea) to cease export of arms and related material as well as items relevant to nuclear, ballistic missiles and other weapons of mass destruction-related programs and to fully abandon all weapons of mass destruction programs.”
These chemical weapons fall into the hands of a regime that has demonstrated a repeated willingness to use chemical attacks in the past. Despite the denials of the Assad Regime about chemical weapon use, numerous countries have made the same claim, and medical aid organizations have reported treating victims of chemical attacks. New weapons in Syria will almost assuredly be put to use as the country nears the seven year mark of conflict. Another UN diplomat remarked on the influx of weapons, lamenting; “The last thing we need in Syria is more weapons … God forbid chemical weapons.”
This report is not the first time North Korea has been linked to Syria’s chemical program, as suspicions of aid have persisted since 2011. The two nations have had good relations of the past several decades, and North Korea has in the past offered military aid, flying air support missions in During the Arab-Israeli wars in the 70’s.
According to other reports, North Korea has repeatedly violated the sanctions placed upon them. In the last year alone, according to a diplomat, North Korea made over 200 million in illegal exports to other countries.
China was a key recipient of the exports according to the report, and purchased much of North Korea’s coal supplies. China has repeatedly denied such accusations but have been an ally of North Korea in the past.
North Korea had recently begun to thaw its icy relations with its neighbors, mending its relationship with South Korea specifically. Such reports could potentially harm progress between North Korea and other countries. As peace remains of tantamount importance, it remains to be seen what impact Korea’s dealings will have on other countries attempts of reconciliation.
