UN Panel on North Korea Sanctions: "North Korea Achieves Missile Technical Progress... Final Stage of Nuclear Test"

UN Security Council Panel of Experts Report on North Korea Sanctions Released

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ji Yeon-jin] The United Nations has assessed that North Korea has achieved technical progress in missile development while evading international sanctions and has entered the final stages of preparing for a nuclear test.

The UN Security Council's Panel of Experts on North Korea Sanctions released a report with these findings on the 7th (local time). The report evaluated that North Korea reopened the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which it had previously voluntarily closed, tested detonators, and is preparing for additional nuclear tests by digging new tunnels.

The Punggye-ri nuclear test site was publicized by North Korea as having been destroyed with dynamite in 2018, but after the suspension of North Korea-US denuclearization talks, restoration and expansion work on the facility began.

The Panel of Experts observed in March that North Korea had begun restoration of Tunnel No. 3 at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site. It was also confirmed that buildings related to nuclear testing were reconstructed. Satellite image analysis showed traces of numerous vehicles near the entrance since mid-February, and piles of timber possibly used for construction were found at the tunnel entrance.

The Panel of Experts analyzed that North Korea achieved technical progress by conducting a total of 31 ballistic missile test launches over 16 occasions from late January to late July this year.

They optimized the operation process of both liquid-fueled and solid-fueled missiles and diversified missile transportation systems by using not only land routes but also railways and submarines. Additionally, it was mentioned that the efficiency of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) engine, developed by imitating the former Soviet RD-250 twin engine, appears to have been improved.

The Panel of Experts' report on North Korea sanctions is published twice a year. The report released this time covers the status of Security Council sanctions implementation on North Korea from late January to late July of this year.