China fails to stop illegal North Korean arms shipments: report

SUGGESTIONS have been made in Washington that China had a hand in facilitating illegal North Korean arms exports after a plane load of armament were discovered on a cargo plane in Bangkok, reports the Washington Times.

The Russian-made Ilyushin-76, with a crew of four Kazakhs and one Belarusian, was impounded after 35 tons of weapons, reportedly including unassembled Taepodong-2 missile parts, were found on board. The destination of the plane was not confirmed, but specialists said Iran was likely.

Larry Niksch, a specialist in Asian affairs at the Congressional Research Service who monitors North Korea's proliferation activities, said the Bangkok seizure raises serious questions about China's role, said the report.

"Two-thirds of the flight path of that plane was over Chinese territory," he said. "It should have raised Chinese suspicions."

The Obama administration brought up concerns about North Korean use of Chinese airspace for arms exports this summer - shortly after the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution banning such transfers - but has yet to receive a meaningful response, US officials said.

"North Korean proliferation by air is an important matter for us, and [Philip] Goldberg brought it up during his meetings in July," said one official, referring to an Asia trip by the State Department envoy for the implementation of Resolution 1874. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was discussing private diplomatic communications.

The resolution, which China supported, lists detailed procedures on how to deal with suspicious vessels and illegal cargo on the high seas, but it is somewhat vague when it comes to air cargo.

In most cases, regardless of the destination of a flight originating in North Korea, it would have to refuel in China or at least fly over its territory, Mr Niksch said.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency quoted officials in Beijing in July as saying that inspections of air cargo should be carried out only if there is specific evidence of wrongdoing.

"China has been faithfully implementing relevant UN resolutions," Wang Baodong, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said. "As to whether the North Korean plane violated UN resolutions, it's up to the UN Security Council to make a judgment."
 

Source> SchedNet