More progress in dismantlement of key facilities at Pyongyang's missile test site: 38 North
- 6 years ago
North Korea seems to be taking further steps in dismantling its missile test site.
In fact,... a North Korea monitoring website says the regime might be going above and beyond what Kim Jong-un promised U.S. President Donald Trump during their Singapore summit.
Won Jung-hwan reports.
North Korea continues to take down faciltiies at a missile engine testing site.
Citing satellite imagery from last Friday,.... a U.S. website monitoring the regime, 38 North, says more work is being done to dismantle facilities at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station.
The pictures show that Pyongyang is ripping down the steel base structure of the vertical engine test stand, and also removing walls at the transfer structure on the launch pad used to support rocket launches.
An analyst said those facilities are key to the testing and development of engines for ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles.
However, the report also said that while work at the launch pad, for now, does seem to be related to its dismantlement,… the possibility cannot be ruled out that its the start of some modification of the structures or other purposes.
The report went on to say that the apparent dismantling should be viewed only as "first steps" since it's neither permanent nor irreversible.
"I think it is very good attempt from North Korea to show to the United States that it has very strong willingness to give up its nuclear weapons and missiles, but in fact this is something related to the future test site and launch site destruction, which is not something directly targeting the destruction of ICBMs North Korea already has. So that's why, maybe,... the U.S. is not accepting this as an important, serious signal,... to dismantle the ICBM that it already possess, which is the main target of the United States towards North Korea."
Meanwhile, a confidential U.N. document reportedly says that North Korea has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs but continues to defy Security Council resolutions through a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products.
According to Reuters, the U.N report also said North Korea is still cooperating militarily with Syria and has been trying to sell weapons to rebels in Yemen.
Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.
In fact,... a North Korea monitoring website says the regime might be going above and beyond what Kim Jong-un promised U.S. President Donald Trump during their Singapore summit.
Won Jung-hwan reports.
North Korea continues to take down faciltiies at a missile engine testing site.
Citing satellite imagery from last Friday,.... a U.S. website monitoring the regime, 38 North, says more work is being done to dismantle facilities at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station.
The pictures show that Pyongyang is ripping down the steel base structure of the vertical engine test stand, and also removing walls at the transfer structure on the launch pad used to support rocket launches.
An analyst said those facilities are key to the testing and development of engines for ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles.
However, the report also said that while work at the launch pad, for now, does seem to be related to its dismantlement,… the possibility cannot be ruled out that its the start of some modification of the structures or other purposes.
The report went on to say that the apparent dismantling should be viewed only as "first steps" since it's neither permanent nor irreversible.
"I think it is very good attempt from North Korea to show to the United States that it has very strong willingness to give up its nuclear weapons and missiles, but in fact this is something related to the future test site and launch site destruction, which is not something directly targeting the destruction of ICBMs North Korea already has. So that's why, maybe,... the U.S. is not accepting this as an important, serious signal,... to dismantle the ICBM that it already possess, which is the main target of the United States towards North Korea."
Meanwhile, a confidential U.N. document reportedly says that North Korea has not stopped its nuclear and missile programs but continues to defy Security Council resolutions through a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products.
According to Reuters, the U.N report also said North Korea is still cooperating militarily with Syria and has been trying to sell weapons to rebels in Yemen.
Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.