North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets participants of the 5th National Conference of War Veterans in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 27, 2018. Source: KCNA via Reuters
NORTH KOREA is building new ballistic missiles at a known nuclear site despite warming ties with the US and promises to begin denuclearisation, US intelligence agencies have found.
Officials told The Washington Post that new evidence has been obtained, including satellite photos, that indicate work is being carried out on at least one and possible two Intercontinental Ballistic missiles (ICBMs) at a facility in Sanumdong. It is reportedly the same factory that produced the country’s first missile capable of striking mainland United States.
This is not the first piece of evidence to suggest Pyongyang is forging ahead with its weapons development despite being engaged in arms talks with senior White House officials.
In June, North Korea monitoring group 38 North discovered ongoing improvements being made to the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre, the only known nuclear reactor used to fuel its weapons programme.
A secret underground uranium enrichment site, thought to have twice the enrichment capability of Yongbyon, was also discovered at Kangson. Images, first reported by the Diplomat, show a football-field-size building surrounded by a high wall, in North Korea’s Chollima-guyok district, southwest of the capital.
This has led US intelligence officials to conclude that North Korea does not intend to fully surrender its nuclear stockpile and is instead attempting to conceal the number of weapons it has in secret production facilities.
A satellite image shows the Sanumdong missile production site in North Korea on July 29, 2018. Source: Planet Labs Inc/Handout via Reuters
These discoveries follow a June summit between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, at which the North Korean leader signed an agreement to work towards the “complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.”
The agreement, signed in Singapore, contained no details or timeline against which progress could be measured. And despite several meetings between high-level officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, North Korea has shown little signal that they are willing to disarm.
The report from The Post claims North Korean officials have, in fact, discussed their intention to deceive Washington about the number of nuclear warheads and missiles they have, as well as the type and number of facilities.
US agencies reportedly believe North Korea’s strategy to dupe inspectors is to dispose of 20 warheads, claiming it is their entire arsenal, while still retaining dozens more in hidden locations.
Satellite photos of the Sanumdong plant also show daily movement of supply trucks that show categorically that work at the site has not been shut down.
In one image taken on July 7, a trailer previously known to be used for the transport of ICBMs was spotted in the loading area of the facility. It is unknown if it was being used for the same purpose.
Observers are unsurprised that North Korea is showing no signs of giving up its nuclear weapons. Kim is aware that the deterrent the weapons provide may be the only thing that prevents the toppling of his family’s regime.
