UN Security Council Finds That North Korea Has Sent Chemical Weapons To Syria

On February 27th a United Nations Security Council (UN) panel uncovered evidence that North Korea is assisting Syria develop chemical weapons.

There is evidence that there were three visits by North Korean technicians in Syria back in 2016. Further findings show more than 40 unreported shipments from North Korea to companies that operate Syria’s chemical weapons programs, these shipments took place between 2012 and 2017.

Trade between the two countries appears to allow Syria to maintain their chemical weapons arsenal and provide North Korea with hard currency.

North Korea is believed to hold a vast chemical arsenal and could potentially expand Syria’s chemical capabilities. Syria has shown in the past that they do indeed have a large arsenal of chemical weapons, and have demonstrated a willingness to use them.

The most recent example of Syria’s chemical weapon capability occurred on February 26th of 2018 in the eastern Ghouta region of Syria. Reports came in from witnesses that chlorine gas was used during airstrikes that killed at least 23 people. The Syrian government has denied using chemical weapons throughout the civil war.

Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011 North Korea has closely backed al-Assad’s government. Since 2013 there have been reports of North Korea sending troops and technical advisors to Syria to help strengthen Assad’s hold on power, though there is no hard evidence.

The relationship between Syria and North Korea has historical roots. The two countries have been supporting each other since the 1960s. For example, in 1967 North Korea sent 25 pilots to Syria during the Arab-Israeli war. Furthermore, throughout the 80s and early 90s North Korea sent special operations forces into Syria to help train the Syrian Arab Army in insurgency tactics.

The biggest concern is whether North Korea will sell nuclear weapons to Syria. North Korea has generally denied that it seeks to export nuclear technology and Syria publicly admits no interest in the purchase of nuclear weapons. However there has been proof in the past of collaboration between the two countries in regards to building a nuclear weapons program.

In September of 2007, Israel launched an operation called Operation Orchard

The two countries also share a more powerful patron, with Russia heavily involved in preserving the Assad’s regime. While less well-known Russia also maintains a relationship with North Korea.

In December of 2017 Russian tankers reportedly supplied fuel to North Korea on at least three separate occasions in previous months, in violation of UN sanctions according to two Western European security sources, despite Russian Foreign Ministry denials.

North Korea and Syria long-standing relationship, solidified by shared relationships with other actors such as Russia, will continue to complicate efforts to enforce the international sanctions regime. U.S. and allied intelligence agencies must continue to take into account the ability of both regimes to use each other’s territory and resources, and U.S. Treasury should prioritize sanctions enforcement against any companies or organizations, including those of countries like Russia, who play a facilitating role in sanctions busting.