North Korea illegally exported millions of tons of commodities like coal last year to enhance its ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons programs, according to a confidential UN report.

Prepared by a UN-appointed independent panel of experts charged with monitoring sanctions enforcement and efficacy on the Pyongyang regime, the annual report — which has not yet been publicly released — reveals North Korea continued its weapons program last year in violation of long-standing UN Security Council sanctions.

Investigators also concluded that “despite its extensive indigenous capability it (North Korea) uses illicit external procurement for components and technology” to develop weapons.

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