North Korea reportedly earned $200 million with banned arms exports

The government of North Korea earned $200 million in 2017 making prohibited arms sales to Syria and Myanmar, a confidential United Nations document reports. The exports were made in violation of U.N. sanctions, the report says, and with the knowledge of other countries including China, Russia, and Malaysia, none of which stopped the sales.

Pyongyang is also in violation of other sanctions, the U.N. says, "flouting the most recent resolutions by exploiting global oil supply chains, complicit foreign nationals, offshore company registries, and the international banking system." The report indicates the investigation found "further evidence of arms embargo and other violations [by North Korea], including through the transfer of items with utility in ballistic missile and chemical weapons programs," as well.

China, Syria, and Myanmar all denied complicity in North Korean violations in statements to the BBC.

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