North Korea continues to dismantle missile launch site, but no signs of any moves to scrap nuclear weapons

Satellite imagery from August 3 indicates additional dismantlement activities are ongoing at the Sohae launch facility. Photo: 38 North

 

Satellite images suggest work is continuing to demolish Sohae facilities, but analysts suggest it may want to keep other parts of its arsenal intact for now

North Korea appears to have taken another step towards dismantling its fixed missile launching facilities after the US stepped up the pressure to disarm, but so far it appears to have left other facilities and its nuclear warheads intact.

The hermit state appears to be continuing to take down its key intercontinental ballistic missile facilities (ICBM) at Sohae, located at about 200km (120 miles) northwest of the capital Pyongyang, according to the North Korea monitoring group 38 North on late Tuesday.

North Korea sends positive signal by dismantling satellite launch site

This satellite image courtesy of Airbus Defense and Space and 38 North dated July 22, 2018 shows the apparent dismantling of facilities at the Sohae satellite launch site in North Korea. Photo: AFP/ PlÈiades © Cnes 2018, Distribution Airbus DS / Handout

 

While credibility of denuclearization has still not been established, new moves signal possible North Korean acceptance of US position linking satellites and missile programs

North Korea is dismantling a satellite-launch and rocket-engine test site in a move that seems aimed at boosting confidence in Washington, where signs of frustration have reportedly appeared over the apparent lack of progress on denuclearization.

Authoritative, US-based website 38 North, which boasts a specialized focus on satellite data analysis of North Korea, announced the findings early on Tuesday, complete with photographs of the site, known as the Sohae Satellite Launching Station.

Russia Throws North Korea a New Lifeline

Meet one of the enemies behind the enemy, feeding the rogue nation and keeping it alive. The other is China. Were it not for them, North Korea would’ve been bombed away 30 years ago. Why do they keep the North Korean regime afloat, you ask? Because North Korea serves as a proxy for both Russia and China. It is their way of making America look like the aggressor and reason for going to war should the U.S. attack their proxy/ally first.

 

Russia has provided North Korea with a new means of access to the Internet following reports the U.S. has engaged in cyber warfare against its Internet espionage group.

 

The Russian telecommunications company TransTeleCom has begun offering a new line of Internet access to North Korea’s regime in the wake of tightening economic sanctions against the Hermit Kingdom.

North Korea says it is ready to use nuclear weapons against the US ‘at any time’

North Korea has claimed its main nuclear complex is fully operational as the country remains prepared to launch a nuclear attack on the US “at any time”.

The country’s state-run news agency carried a statement claiming to be from the director of its Atomic Energy Institute saying the Yongbyon facility, which contains a uranium enrichment plant and nuclear reactor, had been upgraded.