North Korea launches nuclear bombardment of a missile test facility

"There is no longer any nuclear danger in North Korea." This was announced by US President Donald Trump immediately after his summit with Kim Jong Un. For weeks, Pyongyang has taken no concrete steps to promote denuclearization. According to experts from the North Korean information site "38 North", Pyongyang has begun dismantling the facilities of the rocket launch facility in Sohae, on the country's west coast.

A representative of the South Korean presidential office also said: Seoul has discovered mining activities at the Sohae factory. But the speaker did not specify what had been exactly broken. In contrast, "38 North" has released satellite images with explanations of each component of the installation. Among other things, a rocket engine test bench would have been dismantled.

The "38 North" experts see the development as evidence that Kim takes the first steps to implement the USA summit agreement. Obviously, it is an "important measure of trust". The representative of the presidential office mentioned a possible "positive effect".

However, a South Korean expert is skeptical. According to Lee Choon Geun, rocket scientist at the South Korea Institute of Science and Technology, North Korea does not give up much as the country reduces the test surface of l & # 39; plant. For Pyongyang was apparently already satisfied with the current long-range missiles. An effect on North Korea's nuclear capability would therefore be only a dismantling of the entire plant. Because it would give Pyongyang its best location to fire intercontinental ballistic missiles. Hopefully even a railway processing building has been dismantled.

Lee also expresses surprise at the fact that North Korea itself has no Has not publicly announced the eventual sign of relaxation: "We need more analysis to discover why the North has not made a big event of mining and development. if the country tries to keep the speed of the process at a level that it wants for itself, "Lee said.

In his first meeting with US President Donald Trump on June 12, Kim reaffirmed his commitment to "complete denuclearization". However, it is still unclear how and when disarmament should take place. Trump promised North Korea, among other things, "security assurances."

Trump is "very happy"

North Korea has repeatedly launched space rockets in Sohae over recent years, claiming that they have brought satellites into space. On the other hand, the world community has carried out secret tests of long-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that North Korea has not shot a rocket for nine months or conducted nuclear tests. "Japan is happy, all of Asia is happy," he wrote on Twitter. He too was "very happy".

At the same time, there is apparently also movement in South Korea: Seoul plans to reduce the number of its border guards in the communist North. The Yonhap news agency reports. The demilitarized zone should gradually become "a zone of peace". This project was agreed at an inter-Korean summit in the spring. The Ministry of Defense did not initially comment on the report.