UN probing North Korea sanctions violations in 20 countries

UNITED NATIONS – U.N. experts say they are investigating possible violations of sanctions on North Korea in about 20 countries, from alleged clandestine nuclear procurement in China to arms brokering in Syria and military cooperation with Iran, Libya and Sudan.

A report to the Security Council obtained Monday by The Associated Press also details the appearance in North Korea of a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Mercedes-Benz limousines and Lexus all-wheel drive luxury vehicles in violation of a luxury goods ban.

And it notes a trend in North Korea's evasion of financial sanctions by "using cyberattacks to illegally force the transfer of funds from financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges."

The report's executive summary obtained in February had said North Korea's nuclear and missile programs "remain intact" and its leaders are dispersing missile assembly and testing facilities.