North Korea flouts UN sanctions 3 years on

Spear-phishing on cryptocurrency exchanges now a key source of funds

20210806N kim jong un (KCNA-REUTERS)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has continued to pursue his country's weapons development program while evading sanctions. © KCNA via Reuters

HIONA SHIRAIWA, KAORI YOSHIDA and YOSUKE ONCHI, Nikkei staff writers

NEW YORK/SEOUL -- North Korea has evaded U.N. sanctions for the past three years with widespread smuggling operations, with the measures failing to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table for denuclearization talks, according to a draft U.N. report. 

Heavy restrictions on energy exports and imports, as well as other measures, put in place in 2017 came in response to missile and nuclear tests by the regime. The sanctions were a bid by the international community to compel North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, but the regime has continued with its weapons program.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.