UN Points Out Failure of North Korea's Economic Development Strategy Over International Sanctions
Kim Family's Power Maintenance and Stability Are Top Priorities
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Although Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, is focusing all efforts on economic development, it has been evaluated that 200,000 North Korean residents have lost their jobs and food shortages have worsened, making life difficult?not due to international sanctions but because of the failure of Kim’s economic policies.
According to a report by the expert panel released on the 31st (local time) by the UN Security Council’s Sanctions Committee on North Korea, two member states pointed out that the suffering experienced by the residents is caused by the North Korean regime’s policy failures, not international sanctions.
It is analyzed that the agricultural and economic reform measures implemented by North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un in 2012, five years before the Security Council strengthened sanctions against North Korea in 2017, have already ended in failure.
The member states particularly argued that the large-scale showcase construction projects promoted at the regime level in North Korea distort resource allocation.
The member states stated, "North Korea prioritizes maintaining and stabilizing the Kim family’s power over other national projects such as healthcare and food security."
North Korea smuggles fighter jet parts... continues to secretly import luxury cars
According to the report and Russian media coverage, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSS) prevented an attempt by Russian businessman Vladimir Lyubisin to smuggle weapons to North Korea in August 2016.
Lyubisin and his group are suspected of attempting to secretly export five types of parts used in the MiG-29 fighter jet navigation system to North Korea.
The expert panel also revealed that they are investigating attempted arms smuggling incidents in the Czech Republic and Nigeria, led by Hong Young-su, who is presumed to be a current or former agent of North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau.
There is also evidence that North Korea provided weapons to terrorist organizations or Middle Eastern rebel groups.
The 60mm HE (high-explosive) Type 63 mortar shells found at the site of the Al-Shabaab attack on Mogadishu airport in Somalia in February last year were judged to match shells manufactured in North Korea.
The expert panel confirmed that the drone that appeared at North Korea’s military parade in October last year was a 'Mavic 2 Pro type' from China’s SZ DJI (Dajiang) Technology and is investigating the circumstances.
The expert panel stated that they are continuing to investigate the illegal import of two Mercedes-Benz S-Class 600 (Maybach) passenger cars into North Korea, confirmed by one member state.
The report also noted that the sports utility vehicle (SUV) driven personally by North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un during his inspection of flood damage in North Hwanghae Province in August last year was a Lexus. Toyota Japan responded that they could not determine how this model, which is exported to the United States, China, and Canada, was sold to North Korea.
The expert panel found that North Korea’s imports of high-end alcoholic beverages decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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