World
North Korea Is Still Continuing With Its Ballistic Missile Programme- Report
Satellite images show 13 hidden nuclear missile development sites
While the United States President Donald Trump claims that denuclearization talks with North Korea are going in the right direction, new reports suggest otherwise.
A US-based think-tank has come up with a report which claims North Korea is still moving ahead with its ballistic missile programme. Some satellite images analyzed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) shows at least 13 of the suspected 20 hidden nuclear missile development sites that have not been declared by the government. The sites in question, which also include deep underground tunnels designed to house the weapons, are mostly scattered in the country’s remote mountainous areas, reported CNN.
“These missile operating bases, which can be used for all classes of ballistic missile from short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) up to and including intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), would presumably have to be subject to declaration, verification, and dismantlement in any final and fully verifiable denuclearization deal,” the report states.
Notably, US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to work toward denuclearization at the Singapore summit that was held back in June this year. However, the agreement was short on specifics. Interestingly, right after that summit, Trump tweeted that “there is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.” But, unfortunately, very little development in this regard has been made so far.
Pyongyang followed up by claiming to halt missile and nuclear bomb testing in its Punggye-ri nuclear testing site and the Sohae missile engine test facility, and also approved for an official inspection of the sites. But, now, considering the latest report, it doesn’t seem the country is ready for any further step towards denuclearization.
The report comes mere days after Trump announced that his administration is “very happy with how it’s going with North Korea.”
It is expected that the two leaders will have a second summit sometime early next year.
