Activity detected at N Korea’s long-range missile factory
SPY satellites have detected renewed activity at the North Korean factory that produced the country’s first intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the US.
A senior American official has said that photographs and infrared imaging indicate vehicles moving in and out of the facility at Sanumdong.
According to a report in The New York Times North Korea appeared to be building one or two new liquid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missiles at the facility on the outskirts of Pyongyang.
The US official, who spoke to Reuters, said one photo showed a truck and covered trailer similar to those the North has used to move its ICBMS. But as the trailer was covered, it was not possible to know if it was carrying anything. The White House did not comment.
The evidence suggests the activity is taking place despite diplomatic talks and the June summit between Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, and Donald Trump, the US president.
Soon after the summit, Mr Trump declared North Korea no longer posed a nuclear threat. In a broad summit statement, North Korea committed to work toward denuclearisation, but offered no details on how it would go about that. Subsequent talks have not gone smoothly. And it is not the first time US intelligence has been at odds with the president’s optimism.
In late June, officials said North Korea had increased production of fuel for nuclear weapons and that intelligence suggested the North did not intend to fully give up its nuclear arsenal.
Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, said last week that it continued to produce fuel for nuclear bombs despite its pledge to denuclearise. But he insisted the Trump administration was still making progress with Pyongyang.
The reports come as generals from the rival Koreas met at the shared border for talks meant to ease the decadeslong military standoff between the North and South, Seoul officials said.
So far, the Koreas have dismantled their front line propaganda loudspeakers, restored a military hotline and held general-level talks.
North Korea has also begun to return the remains of US war dead, the most recent sign of blossoming diplomacy after last year’s threats of war.