38노스 "北, 서해위성발사장 해체 착수한 듯"
We've not heard of any progress in nuclear disarmament efforts by North Korea... since the historic summit with Washington.
At last, visible steps are taken.
The regime has begun taking apart key missile facilities.
Lee Ji-won starts us off with the welcome developments.
North Korea seems to be keeping the promise it made to U.S. President Donald Trump last month about dismantling its missile engine test site.
U.S.-based North Korea monitoring website 38 North said on Monday that... new commercial satellite images of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station,.. which is the regime's main space vehicle launch site,... show the North has started dismantling key facilities.
They include,... a rail-mounted processing building, where rocket parts are assembled, and the rocket engine test stand, used for developing liquid-fuel engines for ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles.
In the satellite images of the site taken on July 20th and July 22nd, the roof and support structures of the rail-mounted processing facility have been progressively and partially taken down.
Cranes were also spotted in the area,... and the test stand superstructure has been completely dismantled.
Considering that the dismantled facilities were key parts of the regime's Intercontinental ballistic missile program,.... 38 North says.... such efforts are a significant step by North Korea.
South Korea's Blue House National Security Office Deputy Director Nam Gwan-pyo also welcomed the move as a step towards the regime's denuclearization.
But a North Korea expert said while the dismantling of the facility is a positive sign, the U.S. is likely to wait until the facility is completely dismantled before praising the North's initiative.
"If Pyongyang completely dismantles the facility without any conditions, it has taken the first step in building trust with the U.S. and can ask the same from Washington. But if the initial stages of dismantlement are simply being done to receive something in exchange, it's not strong enough to get the U.S. to move."
But regardless, the expert added that the U.S. is not likely to give North Korea anything like the much coveted declaration to end the Korean War in exchange.
He also said that this way of 'give one, get one' exchange is not what the U.S. wants, as it not only gives North Korea the lead but also does not follow the process of declaration, inspection and verification.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News.
