Russia says it's implementing U.N. North Korea sanctions

March 13 (UPI) -- Russia said in a report submitted to the United Nations that it is faithfully implementing all sanctions against North Korea.

According to TASS news agency, Russia's delegation to the U.N. reported Moscow is fulfilling its obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolution 2321.

The sanctions adopted in November 2016 target North Korea's lucrative coal exports, a source of income for the Kim Jong Un regime.

Coal sales are believed to have supported the development of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

The sanctions also ban exports of copper, nickel, silver, zinc and even the sale of statues.

According to Russia's report, Moscow's foreign affairs ministry drafted the presidential decree regarding North Korea sanctions,

The document is being developed in coordination with various government agencies.

Russia submitted the report to the United Nations for the Feb. 28 deadline, according to TASS.

The draft of the presidential decree includes additional sanctions that ban economic, scientific and technical cooperation with North Korea.

The sanctions could prohibit North Korean nuclear researchers from working at Russian nuclear sites, which may have been taking place until 2015.

A former member of the U.N. Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee had said the group has evidence the North Koreans were allowed to conduct studies at Russian nuclear facilities in violation of international sanctions.

Russia is to also stop importing North Korean copper, nickel, silver and zinc.

Moscow has called for North Korea's denuclearization but has remained opposed to the deployment of THAAD, the U.S. missile defense system that could deter incoming North Korea missiles headed for the United States, Japan or South Korea.