North Korea: Kim fails to destroy nuclear sites despite promise to Trump
NORTH Korea has not dismantled its rocket engine test stand yet despite Kim Jong-un vowing to do so when he met Donald Trump at the landmark Singapore summit.
Satellite images of North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station shows the stands are yet to be destroyed.
After the Donald Trump met Kim in Singapore, he claimed that North Korea is “destroying their engine site. They’re blowing it up.”
The leaders spent three days in Singapore for the June summit and pledged to work on North Korea’s nuclear programme and improve relations between North Korea and the US.
But the nuclear site, where an engine test stand was used to test liquid-fuelled rocket engine for ballistic missiles and large space launch vehicles, remains.
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Kim said North Korea would destroy a missile engine test stand “soon”
Kim said North Korea would destroy a missile engine test stand “soon” but did not set an exact timeline for the demolition.
Although Sohae is not the only testing stand in the hermit state, it is considered the most well developed and its destruction would be symbolic for the country.
Experts believe that this site is where the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile, which can target the US mainland, was developed.
Experts on North Korea have said it is significant if the Kim regime destroys this site because of its large size and its destruction would mark a step forward for Pyongyang.
A US official said: “The United States will continue to monitor this site closely as we move forward in our negotiations.”
It is thought the Sohae station was made in 2008 and it has a tower to support the ballistic missiles.
Planet Labs, Inc/38north.org
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Research analyst at 38 North, Jenny Town, said North Korea has made a big effort to develop the site as a “civilian space programme” facility.
She said: “Presumably, if North Korea does destroy the Sohae facility, they are also signaling that they are willing to stop satellite/rocket launches this time around as well, a point that has derailed negotiations in the past and is a significant new development.”
Although Mr Trump has hailed the Singapore summit a roaring success, his critics have questioned how much he actually achieved after Kim made no new new tangible commitments in any joint written declaration.