North Korea’s state airline imported nearly $1 million worth of plane parts for its fleet of Russian Tupolev jets, despite the fact that planes have mostly been grounded during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to a new report from the U.N. Panel of Experts, North Korea’s Air Koryo purchased a gas turbine auxiliary power unit for one of its two Tupolev TU-204 midrange jets, as well as other parts like jacks, hoists, tow bars, wheel bearings and a range of specialist wrenches and hand tools. The purchase came years after Russia calledfor the U.N. to allow Air Koryo to buy