N. Korea ‘ aggressively’ working on ballistic missile submarine: Report Trump wants China to put pressure on N. Korea: WH

Images suggest North Korea building SINPO- C ballistic missile submarine

Washington, Nov. 17: Satellite images taken this month of a North Korean naval shipyard indicate Pyongyang is pursuing an “aggressive schedule” to build its first operational ballistic missile submarine, a US institute reported on Thursday.

Washington- based 38 North, a North Korea monitoring project, cited images taken on November 5 showing activity at North Korea’s Sinpo South Shipyard.

“The presence of what appear to be sections of a submarine’s pressure hull in the yards suggests construction of a new submarine, possibly the SINPO- C ballistic missile submarine — the follow- on to the current SINPO- class experimental ballistic missile submarine,” 38 North said in a report.

The report said that throughout 2017 there had been continued movement Washington, Nov. 17: US President Donald Trump favours China taking a greater role in putting maximum pressure on North Korea to curb its nuclear weapons programme, the White House has said, following Beijing’s decision to send a special envoy to Pyongyang.

“The President certainly favours China taking a

of parts and components into and out of two parts yards adjacent to the constructions halls in the center of the shipyard.

It said the November 5 images showed two large circular objects that could be sections of a submarine’s pressure hull. It said these appeared larger greater role in putting maximum pressure on North Korea,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters.

“Certainly, any effort in order to denuclearise the Peninsula there in North Korea, then China participating in that, the President certainly supports those efforts,” Ms Sanders said. than those for North Korea’s ROMEO- class attack submarine.

Images of a test stand indicated continued testing of a mechanism for ejection launch of missiles from a submarine. However, the report said no activity could be seen suggesting preparations for a new test of a submarinelaunched missile.

North Korea has been working to develop a nuclear- tipped missile capable of reaching the United States, sparking a major international crisis in which US President Donald Trump has said that all options are under consideration, including military ones.

North Korea is also thought to be working on a solid- fuel missile for submarine launches.

Last month, The Diplomat magazine quoted a US government source as saying US military intelligence had detected a new diesel- electric submarine under construction at Sinpo and dubbed it the Sinpo- C. It said the submarine was likely a larger successor to North Korea’s single experimental ballistic missile submarine.