US satellites show expansion of North Korean ballistic missile site
Images released on Sunday, July 1 depict North Korea building a wing for the production of solid fuel for ballistic nuclear weapons at a chemical complex in the country’s second city Hamhung in the south. Last year, Kim Jong-un was photographed examining plans for the new wing as part of Pyongyang’s campaign to prove that North Korea possessed nuclear missiles powered with solid fuel.
The images released Sunday aim at demonstrating that President Donald Trump’s summit with the North Korean ruler in Singapore last month, for the avowed purpose of dismantling his nuclear program was a flop and that Kim had cheated on his pledge to do just that. The images were released on the heels of “leaked reports from US intelligence officials” claiming that Kim had no intention of giving up his nuclear weapons. DEBKAfile: This spate of publications is premature. The negotiations for denuclearization in the wake of the Trump-Kim summit have not yet begun. They will be kicked off by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when arrives in Pyongyang in the coming days. Trump administration officials have estimated that it could take a year for the complicated dismantling of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs to begin.
It is too early to call the Trump/Kim meeting either a flop or a great success.
One can argue that Kim has absolutely no interest in giving up his nuclear weapons or his ballistic missile programs.
However, one can also argue that this is a part of the bargaining process. Trump uses sanctions to pressure North Korea and their masters in Beijing while Beijing and North Korea use threatening weaponry to pressure the USA. In this concept both sides are trying to increase the strength of their bargaining position in order to get a final deal which is more favorable to their side’s goals.
So maybe it was a flop, or maybe both sides are trying to shape a final deal which may (or may not be) much as Trump envisions.
But Trump will need to take measures in reaction to this report. He may need to impose further sanctions on China or maybe re-start the planning for joint exercises with South Korea. But it will be important to remember that the current South Korean leadership is pretty sympathetic to North Korea and may not really want to cooperate with any increase in the pressure Trump may want to impose on NoKo/China.
It is not in China’s strategic interest to denuclearize North Korea in the near term, until regional dominance is established.
We’re supposed to believe the same Brennanites and Clapperites within the VIA and NER that gave us the Steele Dossier?
Amazing how ignorant people are. Unlike carter and clinton, trump is a shrewd businessman. He didn’t lessen the sanctions, he kept them in place u til they fully comply. Why dies that matter? Because they hurt him and his family is living it up shopping in Europe and Singapore. Once the camels nose is u dear the tent, you can’t keep him out. Carter and clinton acted like conquering hero’s but gave money for nothing, like most a hole politicians craving adulation not results. Trump is dangling the carrot in front of Kim. He was raised in the West, he knows he can get a promise not to be deposed, billions in aid and investments which will make him his family and his wife and sister secure for life. ( migh5 have to take out some of his old generals, but he’s a pro at that) . Iran and Turkey will be the end time focus. It is written.
Iran and Turkey proceeds the end time focus. The end time focus is Kings from the East and the rest of the World. It looks as if Israel is going to have to do something desperate to get out of this one, or divine intervention. Who knows if they remain patient they may be able to survive a few more years. Do you think that all of those Sunni’s would want to attack the Golan if they had all of that fire power behind them? Israel would have to go to a few tactical nukes. Every airbase in Israel is within range of missiles from all over.
The U.S. is awaken, and now #WalkAway movement to abandon liberalism has gone viral. Fake news from European Globalist, want stop America or North Korea stated Singapore goals.
how does ‘solid fuel for ballistic nuclear weapons’ differ from solid fuel for other conventional solid fuel rocket propelled missiles, dopey? do ballistic rocket propelled nuclear weapons have special fuel or are you just fear mongering?
N.K will destroy u.s.
If Kim allows foreign investment then the NK population will have to interface with the foreignness. Willingly or unwillingly every foreigner will be an anti-Kim propagandist by telling the NK people about life in the West. The Kim dynasty will be challenged by the rising NK middle class. China will lose a colony (NK). Russia will lose a cherished rabid anti-US dog. Hence Kim will most likely not denuclearize; other dictators will acquire the nukes as well. US is best in innovation, its developing laser ship, space and land based defense systems will render nuclear weapons of every rouge regime as a useless drain on its economy. By restricting visas the US can minimize the potential infiltration of suit case nukes. By restricting technology transfer to China the US can force the Chinese middle class to break the yoke of the Communist rule. Freeing the human mind to develop arms can stop local and global nuclear wars, but not in the ME where unfortunately logic doesn’t apply and emotions rule.
trump knew kim would not comply that is why he kept the santions . kim destroyed an obsolete crumbling test site trump knew this. kim will be taken out plans are in place trump is NOT OBAMA
Sometimes shock treatment helps refocus… For example, target war trophy “Pueblo” for satellite or stealth missile demolition… US can scrap an obsolete US Navy ship if it chooses.