We now catch up on the latest in Syria….<br />Airstrikes by pro-government forces are reportedly continuing despite Russian President Putin's call for a so-called "humanitarian pause."<br />Ro Aram has the details. <br /> The "humanitarian pause," as Putin put it, was meant to allow for civilians to evacuate the rebel-held area. <br />It was meant to start Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, but activists on the ground reported airstrikes and artillery fire from pro-regime positions within minutes of when the pause was meant to start.<br />Russia and its ally Syria, however, blamed the rebels for the collapse of the truce.<br /> They accused rebels of shelling what Moscow has described as "humanitarian corridors," meant to give civilians safe passage out of the enclave. <br />The insurgents denied such shelling, and UN Security Council members, including the U.S., have been demanding Moscow implement a 30-day ceasefire resolution adopted on Saturday. <br /> Meanwhile, Russia's proposed pause in hostilities is also meant to allow humanitarian aid to come in.<br />But, the International Committee of the Red Cross says the five-hour pause is too short for delivery of vast amounts of life-saving aid. <br />Hundreds of people have died during the bombardment, which intensified about a week and a half ago, marking one of the deadliest in the Syrian civil war - now entering its eighth year.<br /> U.S. media also reported Tuesday, citing UN experts, that North Korea has been sending supplies, such as acid-resistant tiles, valves and pipes to Syria that could be used to produce chemical weapons.<br />The allegations came two days after a suspected chlorine attack by the Syrian government on eastern Ghouta, which Damascus denies.<br />A yet-to-be-released UN report suggests Damascus paid Pyongyang for the supplies via several front companies.<br /> The report was said to have been compiled by a UN panel assessing the North's compliance with international sanctions.<br />Ro Aram, Arirang News. <br />
