According to a confidential United Nations (UN) report seen by Reuters on Monday, North Korea has “maintained and developed its nuclear and ballistic missile programs throughout 2020”, in what represents a grave violation of international sanctions against the country. According to Reuters, the activity was funded by $300 million stolen through several cyber hacks.
The UN report compiled by independent sanctions monitors said that the country “produced fissile material, maintained nuclear facilities and upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure”, while also continuing to acquire material and technology from abroad. Moreover, the report added that in 2020, North Korea “displayed new short-range, medium-range, submarine-launched and intercontinental ballistic missile systems at military parades”. Further, it assessed that judging by the size of the Pyongyang’s missiles, “it is highly likely that a nuclear device” could be “mounted on to long-range, medium-range and short-range ballistic missiles”.
In similar news from the country, reports allege that, given the changes made to some of this year’s official calendars, North Korea may have introduced a new holiday called the “Rocket Industry Day”, to celebrate the anniversary of the country’s largest-ever nuclear missile test. However, the veracity of the claim remains disputed, as some versions of the newly published calendar do not mark the new holiday, thus creating uncertainty around possible celebrations planned for November 29.
The anniversary commemorates the November 29, 2017 event, when North Korea test-launched its Hwasong-15 nuclear-capable intercontinental-range ballistic missile (ICBM) that landed in Japanese waters. The missile, which was described as “most powerful” by the country, flew higher than any other missile the North had previously tested. Following the test, Pyongyang claimed on state-run television that it had achieved its goal of becoming a nuclear state. In response, the Trump administration warned Pyongyang that even the threat to use such a weapon against it and its allies “will be met with [a] massive military response”.
Although the North has held back from officially celebrating this test launch anniversary in previous years, the Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un did make a secret visit to a monument erected at the site of the launch to commemorate the anniversary last year. The official addition of this holiday would be a departure from Pyongyang’s previous policy of downplaying its nuclear capabilities in order to make progress on talks with Washington regarding the easing of sanctions.
These developments come only a few weeks after United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the new administration intends on reviewing engagement with North Korea and would look at ways to increase pressure on the country to renegotiate its nuclear weapons programme. Blinken also added that the US might consider providing humanitarian aid to Pyongyang if necessary. If the North has indeed added this holiday to its new calendar, it risks losing the opportunity to negotiate with the new administration in Washington.
UN Report Suggests North Korea Enhanced Nuclear Capability in 2020
According to a UN report, North Korea violated international sanctions by developing its nuclear and ballistic missile systems in 2020.
February 9, 2021
SOURCE: ABC NEWS