A leading Japanese daily says North Korea allegedly tried to export to Syria liquid and powered substances related to chemical weapons back in 2009.

The Yomiuri Shimbun quoted a number of diplomatic sources on Wednesday as saying that a cargo ship left the North for Syria in November 2009 and was seized by Greek authorities as it passed through Greece.

According to the sources, the ship was carrying various wooden boxes that contained ampoules which were carrying liquid and powdered reagents.

The newspaper said that an investigation on the case is expected to be begin soon.

North Korea and Syria are among the six countries that are not members of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the production and stockpiling of chemical weapons.