North Korea Begins Dismantling Key Facilities at theSohae Satellite Launching Station
"North Korea satellite images show missile plant construction, analysts say [...] The satellite images, taken by San Francisco-based Planet Labs Inc. and analyzed by researchers at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies (MIIS) in Monterrey, show Pyongyang finishing construction at the Chemical Material Institute, which researchers say is based in the North Korean city of Hamhung.
The Chemical Material Institute is known for making carbon composite parts for solid-fueled missiles like nozzles, airframes and nosecones used in re-entry vehicles, according to David Schmerler, a research associate at MIIS."
By: 38 North July 23, 2018Satellite Imagery, WMD
A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.
In an important first step towards fulfilling a commitment made by Kim Jong Un at the June 12 Singapore Summit, new commercial satellite imagery of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station (North Korea’s main satellite launch facility since 2012) indicates that the North has begun dismantling key facilities. Most notably, these include the rail-mounted processing building—where space launch vehicles are prepared before moving them to the launch pad—and the nearby rocket engine test stand used to develop liquid-fuel engines for ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles. Since these facilities are believed to have played an important role in the development of technologies for the North’s intercontinental ballistic missile program, these efforts represent a significant confidence building measure on the part of North Korea.
Infrastructure Improvements at North Korea’sYongbyon Nuclear Research Facility
By: 38 North June 26, 2018Satellite Imagery
A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Frank V. Pabian, Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Jack Liu.
Commercial satellite imagery from June 21 indicates that improvements to the infrastructure at North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center are continuing at a rapid pace. Modifications to the 5 MWe plutonium production reactor’s cooling system appear complete, but a less-than-normal cooling water discharge from the outfall pipe makes a determination of the reactor’s operational status difficult. The status of the Radiochemical Laboratory—used to separate plutonium from spent fuel rods—remains uncertain, although the associated Thermal Plant has likely continued operations, and a small non-industrial building of an unknown purpose has been newly erected near the cooling tower. Construction continues on support facilities throughout other operational areas of Yongbyon, especially at the Experimental Light Water Reactor (ELWR), where the new engineering office building appears externally complete and a small building similar to the one observed at the Radiochemical Laboratory has been erected.
Former US intelligence head: Trump needs to ask what Kim Jong Un ultimately wants
"North Korea satellite images show missile plant construction, analysts say"
* The U.S. administration must ask Pyongyang about its long-term objective, according to James Clapper, who served as U.S. intelligence chief from 2010 to 2017.
* Speaking to CNBC at the Barclays Asia Forum, the retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general said it's important for Trump to ask North Korea's Kim Jong Un the question: "What is it that you require in North Korea that you don't need nuclear weapons to feel secure?"
Nyshka Chandran | @nyshkac Published 11:00 PM ET Mon, 8 Oct 2018 Updated 12:44 AM ET Tue, 9 Oct 2018 CNBC.com
VIDEO - Former US intelligence head on Saudi Arabia's leadership 11:06 PM ET Mon, 8 Oct 2018 | 02:43
In order to see a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, the U.S. must ask North Korea .. https://www.cnbc.com/north-korea/ .. about its long-term objective, warned James Clapper, former American director of national intelligence.
A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general, Clapper weighed in on the state of Washington-Pyongyang relations in the wake of the historic June summit between U.S. President Donald Trump .. https://www.cnbc.com/donald-trump/ .. and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un .. https://www.cnbc.com/kim-jong-un/ .
"What failed to happen in the summit that occurred here in Singapore would have been a great opportunity for President Trump to get the answer to a very important question: 'What is it that you require in North Korea that you don't need nuclear weapons to feel secure?'" Clapper told CNBC's Nancy Hungerford at the annual Barclays Asia Forum in Singapore.
"It would be very useful to know the answer to that. Otherwise, we're ad hoc-ing it and taking one step in the blind at a time," said Clapper, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama .. https://www.cnbc.com/id/105068019 .. in 2010 and left the role when Trump entered office.
The U.S. leader is considering meeting Kim for a second summit "as soon as possible," according to recent news reports. But Clapper expressed doubt about the results of such talks.
Getty Images Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper
While the American administration may define the concept as Pyongyang relinquishing all nuclear weapons, North Koreans "believe there are certain obligations that we incur to denuclearize the peninsula," such as no more U.S. bombers near North Korea, Clapper said.
"It's my belief that we basically squandered leverage we had over the Iranians, which we could have used to build on to get at other nefarious behavior. Moreover, backing out of the agreement really plays to the hardliner narrative within Iran," he said.
"The question I always pose to people is which would you rather have: state-sponsored terrorism with a nuclear weapons capability or state-sponsored terrorism without a nuclear weapons capability," he added.
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