While the on-and-off again denuclearization talks with North Korea gradually shuffle along,... a report has been released that could potentially derail the efforts made by South Korea and the U.S.
The report, put together by a U.S.-based think tank, suggests..... the regime is still pushing ahead with its nuclear weapons program.
Lee Ji-won tells us more.
A U.S. think tank appears to have identified at least 13 of an estimated 20 undeclared missile operating bases inside North Korea.
This is according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Monday, which analyzed satellite images showing many of the sites scattered in remote, mountainous areas across the North.
The report also said maintenance and minor infrastructure improvements have been observed at some of the sites.
It says the sites could be used to house ballistic missiles of various ranges, including ICBMs, which could target the U.S. mainland, and be subject to declaration and verification in the denuclearization process.
Of them, Sakkanmol, the site closest to the border with South Korea, appears to be "active and being reasonably well maintained."
This comes just five months after North Korea and the U.S. had their historic first summit in Singapore,... agreeing to jointly achieve Pyeongyang's denuclearization and security guarantee.
U.S. President Donald Trump has been touting his progress so far, saying the North has ceased its provocations and nuclear threats for months now.
The U.S. State Department, when asked about the report, said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a commitment to denuclearize and end its missile programs during his summit with President Trump.
Radio Free Asia reported Tuesday that a State Department official said President Trump made clear that the North has a brighter future should Kim make good on his commitments.
But Democrats in Washington think differently.
Senator Edward Markey, a Democratic member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said on Monday that "President Trump is getting played by Kim Jong-un".
He added Washington cannot have another summit with Pyeongyang, unless the regime takes "concrete, tangible actions" to halt and roll back its nuclear and missile programs.
With the North and the U.S. in a stalemate again, it remains to be seen how the latest report will affect their talks and possibly the planned second North Korea-U.S. summit slated for early next year.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News.
