North Korea possibly hiding missile operating bases despite denuclearization pledge, think tank says

[txradioguy]

North Korea is conning the United States, building up secret, smaller missile bases even after publicly touting the dismantling of its main launch site, according to a new review of satellite images by a top think tank.

Citing new satellite pictures, the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Beyond Parallel program identified what appears to be missile operating bases that have never been acknowledged by North Korean officials. CSIS' conclusions were not immediately independently confirmed.

The report identified about 15 to 20 bases being operated by the Korean People’s Army's Strategic Force, based on information from officials in the government, defense and intelligence, as well as North Korean defectors.

“The ballistic missile operating bases are small, dispersed throughout the nation, and, with few exceptions, located in narrow mountain valleys,” the CSIS report stated. “The deployment pattern has evolved over time, garnering a variety of descriptions, but today it is most commonly described as consisting of the three ‘belts’: the Tactical (or Forward), the Operational, and the Strategic (or Strategic Rear) based upon their physical distance from the DMZ [Demilitarized Zone].”

The sites can build a slew of missiles for the regime, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that may have the ability to reach U.S. territory. Though the bases are not considered traditional launch facilities, missiles can be launched from the locations in an emergency, the report stated.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/north-korea-possibly-hiding-missile-operating-bases-despite-denuclearization-pledge-report-says

[TomSea]

North Korea hiding missile bases, US researchers say

(image)
Trump points to progress in defusing tension with North Korea since his summit with Kim Jong-un, but a new study says it maintains at least 13 undeclared missile bases

North Korea is operating at least 13 undeclared bases to hide mobile, nuclear-capable missiles, a new study released Monday has found, raising fresh doubts over US President Donald Trump's signature foreign policy initiative.

Trump has hailed his July summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as having opened the way to denuclearization of the divided peninsula, defusing tensions that less than a year ago brought the two countries to the brink of conflict.

Read more at: https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/north-korea-hiding-missile-bases-us-researchers-say-doc-1as5iq1

A foot in the door is better than nothing at all, I knew this wouldn't be easy but it's something so far. Naysayers will say the opposite, have at it. "I told you so."

[TomSea]

Seoul plays down media claim on North Korea's missile base

By Wooyoung Lee     |     Nov. 13, 2018 at 5:54 AM
 
SEOUL, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- South Korea's presidential office said that South Korea and the United States have been aware of the North Korean missile base, which a U.S. think tank revealed and claimed to be active based on commercial satellite images.

"The South Korean and U.S. intelligence officials know about the missile base in much more detail. We have been watching this site and there has been nothing new from this," said Kim Eui-kyeom, a presidential spokesman said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

Kim said the missile base, reported to be the Sakkanmol Missile Operating Base by the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Beyond Parallel project on Monday, is for short-range missiles and North Korea hasn't signed any agreement which obligates them to close it.

Read more at:  https://www.bing.com/amp/s/www.upi.com/amp/Top_News/World-News/2018/11/13/Seoul-plays-down-media-claim-on-North-Koreas-missile-base/9851542105773/

[TomSea]

(2nd LD) Report of N. Korea's 'undisclosed' missile bases not new, S. Korea says
(ATTN: UPDATES with expert's view, other details from 15th para)

SEOUL/WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's presidential office on Tuesday played down a new report on North Korea's "undisclosed" missile sites, saying the state intelligence communities of South Korea and the United States earlier acquired relevant information.

Cheong Wa Dae added that it's going too far to call the North's continued activity a "great deception" given that it has no specific agreement to dismantle or disclose the facilities mentioned in the report issued by Beyond Parallel, a group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The group said it has located 13 out of an estimated 20 missile operating bases undeclared by the secretive communist regime.

Read more at: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2018/11/13/0301000000AEN20181113001752315.html

[txradioguy]

Someone seems way more interested in playing propaganda minister than actually discussing the OP.  *yawn*