GhanaStar
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music
No Result
View All Result
GhanaStar
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music
No Result
View All Result
GhanaStar
No Result
View All Result
Home News

N Korea ‘providing Materials To Syria

February 28, 2018
in News
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

North Korea has been sending equipment to Syria that could be used to make chemical weapons, a UN report says.

You Might Also Like

Two People Arrested in Connection with Death of X-Rated American IG Model, Tyger Booty

Ghana’s Parliament Erupts into Chaos as NDC MP whisks away Speaker’s seat

Cedi records highest depreciation against dollar in 36 weeks

Some 40 previously unreported shipments were made between 2012 and 2017, the report found. Materials included acid-resistant tiles, valves and pipes.

The report – yet to be released – said N Korean missile specialists had been seen at Syrian weapon-making centres.

The allegations follow new reports of chlorine being used by Syrian forces, which the government denies.

Meanwhile, air strikes were heard in the Eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus as a second daily pause in fighting was due to get under way to allow in relief aid.

Aid was unable to enter the rebel-held region on Tuesday – the first of the five-hour “pauses” in fighting – after clashes continued.

Activists blamed government air and artillery strikes, while Russia said rebels had shelled a “humanitarian corridor” meant to let civilians leave.

What are the allegations against North Korea?

North Korea is under international sanctions over its nuclear programme.

But a confidential report, compiled by a US Panel of Experts which assesses North Korea’s compliance with UN resolutions, found evidence of illicit supplies sent to Syria.

Seen by the BBC, the report says the items included high-heat, acid-resistant tiles, corrosion-resistant valves and thermometers.

The Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) – a Syrian government agency – is alleged to have paid North Korea via a number of front companies.

Among the alleged shipments were at least five sent via a Chinese trading firm, Cheng Tong Trading Co Ltd, the report says.

The shipments allegedly contained acid-resistant tiles – which can be used for activities conducted at high temperatures – at a quantity that would cover the area of a large scale industrial project.

While the seized items “do not appear on any control lists”, they included “materials that can be used to build bricks for the interior walls of [a] chemical factory”, the report noted.

China responded to the Panel’s findings, saying it had no “evidence demonstrating the Cheng Tong Trading Co has business with” any North Korean entities in violation of Security Council violations.

The Syrian government told the UN panel that the only North Koreans present in Syria are sports coaches and athletes.

UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric did not say whether the leaked report would be published, but told the New York Times: “I think the overarching message is that all member states have a duty and responsibility to abide by the sanctions that are in place.”

In a September 2017 report, which is publicly available, the group said it was “investigating reported prohibited chemical, ballistic missile and conventional arms cooperation” between Syria and North Korea.

It said that two UN member states had intercepted shipments bound for Syria, and that the goods were suspected to be supplied by North Korea’s main arms exporter as part of a contract with front companies representing the SSRC.

What is Syria’s position on chemical weapons?

Syria signed up to the Chemical Weapons Convention and agreed to have its declared chemical weapons stock destroyed in 2013 after a Sarin nerve agent attack killed hundreds of people in rebel-held suburbs of Damascus..

It has been accused of repeatedly using banned chemical weapons in the civil war since then.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) concluded that Sarin was used in Khan Sheikhoun, a rebel-held town in Idlib province, last April in an incident that killed more than 80 people. OPCW and UN investigators are confident the Syrian air force was to blame.

The US carried out missile strikes on a Syrian air base in response but President Bashar al-Assad maintained the incident was faked.

Suspected chlorine attacks have been recently reported in Syria, including on Sunday in the Eastern Ghouta.

The OPCW is investigating those attacks, Reuters news agency reports, citing diplomatic sources. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is among Western leaders who have suggested the Syrian government could be attacked if there is fresh “incontrovertible” evidence that chemical weapons have been used against civilians.

Experts say that North Korea has long offered military supplies and weapons know-how around the world in exchange for cash.

The UN report is said to highlight its efforts to illicitly trade with dozens of countries and groups in the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America.

Last week, US President Donald Trump said Washington was imposing a fresh set of sanctions on North Korea, targeting more than 50 ships and maritime transport companies in several countries.

North Korea is already under a range of international and US sanctions over its nuclear programme and missile tests.

But it continued tests last year, including tests of a nuclear weapon and a long-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the US.

The US says the new sanctions are designed to put a further squeeze on North Korea, cutting off sources of revenue and fuel for its nuclear programme and clamping down on evasion of already existing restrictions.

Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.

Tags: 2013-00-00Bashar al-AssadBBCBoris Johnsonchemical factorychemical weaponschinaDamascusDonald Trumpeastern MediterraneanForeign SecretaryGeography of AsiaIdlibLatin AmericaLevantMesopotamiaMiddle EastNewspaper & Magazine Printing ServicesNewspaper PublishingNorth AfricaNorth KoreaOPCWOrganisation for the ProhibitionpoliticspresidentProfessional Information Services - NECprohibited chemicalReutersRussiaScientific Studies and Research CenterSecurity CouncilSheikhounspokesmanStphane DujarricsyriaSyria and weapons of mass destructionSyrian Air ForceSyrian governmentthe New York TimesTong Trading CoUnited KingdomUnited NationsUnited StatesWar_ConflictwashingtonWestern Asia

Related News

Two People Arrested in Connection with Death of X-Rated American IG Model, Tyger Booty

Two People Arrested in Connection with Death of X-Rated American IG Model, Tyger Booty

by ghanastar
January 2, 2022
0

The Ghana Police Service has announced the arrest of two persons in connection with the death of Julie Diane Williams,...

Ghana’s Parliament Erupts into Chaos as NDC MP whisks away Speaker’s seat

Ghana’s Parliament Erupts into Chaos as NDC MP whisks away Speaker’s seat

by ghanastar
December 1, 2021
0

Ghana's Paliament on Wednesday erupted into chaos with minority and majority members shoving and pushing each other. The heated confrontation...

Cedi records highest depreciation against dollar in 36 weeks

Cedi records highest depreciation against dollar in 36 weeks

by ghanastar
December 1, 2021
0

The local currency is back into free-fall mode against its major counterpart trading currency, the US dollar, as it records...

Meet Paul Mensah – the Ghanaian-Born Engineer Who Led Pfizer Team to Develop COVID-19 Vaccine

Meet Paul Mensah – the Ghanaian-Born Engineer Who Led Pfizer Team to Develop COVID-19 Vaccine

by ghanastar
March 11, 2021
0

Ghanaian-born Paul Mensah is a chemical engineer and the vice president of the bioprocess research and development group at Pfizer...

Next Post

UMB Introduces 'SpeedApp' For Seamless Mobile Banking

Sacked Asante Kotoko Coach Steve Pollack To Go To Court; BLASTS Management For Club's Malaise

Trending News

Emma M’eni Nwu, Emma M’atamfo Nsere Me(Kyere Me W’akwan)

August 20, 2016

Kept By The Power Of God

August 20, 2016

My Hands Are Blessed

August 20, 2016

About

Read today's latest news headlines from Ghana and Africa. Stay up to date on local business, sports, crime, politics, arts, culture, and more.

Categories

  • Africa & World
  • African Music Lyrics Directory
  • Business
  • Business Directory
  • celebrities
  • Computing
  • Diaspora
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Feature
  • Featured
  • Ghana Elections 2016
  • Headlines
  • Health
  • International
  • Internet
  • Jobs
  • lifestyle
  • Music
  • News
  • Offbeat
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Profiles
  • Religion
  • Security
  • Seth Terkper
  • Smart Home
  • Social Networks
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Top Stories
  • World News

Tags

accra addo africa Association football Banks - NEC business Business_Finance chairman Donald Trump economy education Entertainment_Culture environment Geography of Africa ghana Ghanaian people government Government of Ghana Human Interest John Dramani Mahama john mahama Law_Crime mahama minister MPs elected in the Ghanaian parliamentary election Nana Addo Nana Addo Dankwa Nana Akufo-Addo National Democratic Congress National Democratic Congress (NDC) New Patriotic Party New Patriotic Party (NPP) nigeria politics Politics of Ghana president Social Issues Social Media Social Media & Networking sports United Kingdom United Nations United States Vice President War_Conflict

Recent Posts

  • Suicide at Aburi Botanical Gardens: Man Found Dead
  • Ghanaian-American Family Suspects Cover-up in Son’s Death at Fort Rucker Military Base in Alabama US
List of Ghana Holidays for 2020
Ghana Geocoding
Ghana Cedis Exchange API
Ghana Maps Service
Toyota Cars Auto Auction History
  • African Music Lyrics Directory
  • Business Directory
  • Diaspora
  • Top Stories

All rights reserved © 2021 GhanaStar.com

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Music

All rights reserved © 2021 GhanaStar.com