New North Korean Missile Site Reportedly Discovered as Trump Preps for New Summit With Kim Jong Un
As the White House prepares for a second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a new report indicates that researchers have discovered a secret North Korean ballistic missile launch site.
Beyond Parallel, a project from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), has released a profile report on the Sino-ri Missile Operating Base. The facility is described as one of the oldest of approximately 20 missile sites that have never been declared by the North Korean government, and it apparently serves as a training ground and research & development headquarters for the Korean People’s Army Strategic Rocket Forces missile brigade,
“The Sino-ri base appears to have been involved at different times in validating designs and testing capabilities for new launchers, support vehicles, and specialized equipment, etc,” the report states. “It has also been a site for assisting in the development of operational procedures and tactics; and conducting training for ballistic missile personnel and units.”
Satellite imagery picked up by Beyond Parallel highlights several possible landmarks of the Sino-ri base, such as their bunker entrances, the communications facility, and their vehicular storage building. The report also contains details on the area’s fortifications, and their capabilities for defending North Korea or, alternatively, launching strikes against South Korea and Japan.
The report comes after several months of reporting suggested that the North Koreans are still building up their military and their nuclear infrastructure, despite Trump’s claims of making progress on denuclearization. These reports and North Korea’s attempts to conceal their functional missile sites have raised questions about the progress of negotiations for international peace.
It isn’t clear yet where Trump will meet with Kim again, though the White House says it will happen towards the end of February.
Watch above, via MSNBC.
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