North Korea carries on to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs notwithstanding worsening economic conditions exacerbated by UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions, The report issued on Monday by a panel of experts on North Korean sanctions said.  The report also said the North continues to evade sanctions by ever sophisticating means.

During the reporting period, in spite of the country's focus on its worsening economic travails, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea continued to maintain and develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs," said the report, referring to North Korea by its official name. The semestral report noted the North did not conduct any intercontinental ballistic missiles or nuclear tests over the reporting period, but that it staged a short-range ballistic missile test "combining ballistic and guidance technologies".

Pyongyang unveiled two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea in late March. North Korea is prohibited from developing or testing any ballistic missiles under UNSC resolutions. The panel of experts said the North also continued to seek materials and technologies for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs from overseas.

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