North Korea's commitment to denuclearization is the subject of a new review



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North Korea's commitment to denuclearization following the historic summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump is subject to further review following reports that Pyongyang continues to manufacture intercontinental ballistic missiles. According to US media, production facilities outside of Pyongyang have intensified current skepticism about North Korea's real intention to abandon its nuclear and missile programs.

The Washington Post reported that satellite imagery and the United States suggested that North Korea was building at least one liquid-fuel ballistic missile in an out-of-town facility from Pyongyang where the nation produced its first ICBMs tested after Trump came to power

. after the satellite images showed that North Korea seemed to have begun to dismantle a missile launch facility in the west of the country. While some badysts considered the dismantling of Sohae as evidence that Mr. Kim was following a promise made to Mr. Trump, others said it was more symbolic and did not mean that Pyongyang had stopped missile production.

State leading the denuclearization talks with North Korea last week faced tough questions when it tried to defend the agreement that Mr. Trump signed with Mr. Kim in Singapore at the time. 39, appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. While rejecting the idea that Mr. Kim had played Mr. Trump, he acknowledged that North Korea continued to produce fissile material – an admission that some experts pointed out that Mr. Kim was just dragging along the president American

Evan Medeiros, a former Barack Obama advisor to the White House, said the fact that the intelligence community was leaking the latest news to the media was a sign that the CIA, led by Mr. Pompeo before his current job, was not completely behind Trump's policy. He added that the pictures suggested that North Korea was playing the kind of games that it has played in the past.

"North Korea has 40 years of cheating and is not honoring its commitments.It seems like they are trying to add a decade to this 40-year history," said Medeiros.

North Korean Lieutenant-General An Ik San, left, and his South Korean counterpart, General Kim Do-gyun © AP

When he appeared before the Senate last week, Mr. Pompeo stated "We have not been mistaken for a senator … I hope you can sleep a little better tonight," when Ed Markey, a Democrat, took him to task. He also stressed that the United States would not relax the sanctions against North Korea until the end of the denuclearization of Pyongyang.

The latest US news about North Korea has been taken up by free image experts. Dave Schmerler, a researcher at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, said new satellite photos showed the construction of two new buildings at the Sanum neighborhood site north of Pyongyang.

million. Schmerler could not confirm the construction of new missiles, he said that it was clear that the site was active.

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As the US secret service cast new doubt on Kim's pledge, Pyongyang and Seoul on Monday held military talks aimed at ending hostilities on the Korean peninsula. The talks highlighted Pyongyang's cover strategy, which seeks to trap its enemies in diplomacy while continuing to strengthen its advanced weapons capabilities

The meeting in the demilitarized zone between the two countries was organized to discuss of the Panmunjom Declaration. between leaders of North Korea and South Korea in April, which includes a commitment to stop hostile acts on the peninsula.

"We have learned that all Koreans, North and South, cherish our discussions, a scene that makes us aware of the sense of duty of the military authorities in inter-Korean efforts for peace and prosperity," he said. Lieutenant-General An Ik San, who represented North Korea at the talks.

intensified efforts to persuade the South to take over inter-Korean economic projects, such as the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mount Kumgang Tourism Site.

A comment in the North Korean state A Rodong Sinmun urged Seoul to "gather the courage" to revive the projects, which were halted in 2016 as a result of a test. nuclear weapons by the Pyongyang regime. The state spokesman said that "instead of an economic commitment, Seoul" added more to the list of sanctions and pressure by jumping on the train of foreign powers ".

Follow Demetri Sevastopulo and Bryan Harris on Twitter: @dimi and @bryanhimself

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