Violation: UN Says North Korea Helping Syria Create Chemical Weapons

The Syrian government is suspected of using chemical weapons nearly 200 times over the course of the country's seven-year civil war.

Since the start, there have been suspicions that North Korea was providing both equipment and expertise. Now, the United Nations has some pretty substantial proof.

In a 200 page report obtained by The New York Times, UN experts detail how North Korea has violated international sanctions by sending ballistic missile and chemical weapons components to Syria. 

Some of the materials shipped include acid-resistant tiles, valves and thermometers. 

At least 40 unreported shipments were discovered between 2012 and 2017, but the transfers reportedly date as far back as 2008.

"I think the overarching message is that all member states have a duty and a responsibility to abide by the sanctions that are in place," Stephane Dujarric, a UN spokesman said Tuesday.

The report shows that both countries are working to find a way around the sanctions meant to reduce their military development as North Korea looks for ways to make money to pay for its nuclear weapons program and the Syrian government works to maintain chemical weapons to use in its civil war.

In the last nine days alone, more than 500 people have been killed in Ghouta – at least 142 of them were children.

For more details on the ongoing war and reality of what life is like for the Syrian people, listen to today's episode of The CBN News Daily Rundown.

"I think what is going on in east Ghouta is the equivalent of 'hell on earth.' We have seen, we are seeing Security Council resolutions completely ignored, a resolution that has called for a 30-day halt to the fighting. We have seen various other calls for more limited ceasefires being completely ignored," Dujarric said.

The US recently warned that it may again use military force in Syria, if the government there keeps using banned weapons.