North Korean Missile Site Appears Operational, Images Show

[JacksinPA]

North Korean Missile Site Appears Operational, Images Show - WSJ

Fresh satellite images show construction to rebuild launchpad has moved quickly and appears to have been finished

WASHINGTON—A North Korean missile launch site that Pyongyang had previously said it was dismantling appears once again to be operational, according to an independent analysis of updated satellite photos.

President Trump said Wednesday that he would be “very, very disappointed” if the initial reports that North Korea was restoring the launch site at Tongchang-ri turned out to be true, but allowed that it was too early to know if Pyongyang was restoring the site.
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I guess Kim & Trump broke up their love affair. Expect an ICBM test launch any day, the geopolitical equivalent of Kim sticking his thumb in Trump's eye.

 

[Common Sense 1]

North Korean Missile Site Appears Operational, Images Show - WSJ

Fresh satellite images show construction to rebuild launchpad has moved quickly and appears to have been finished

WASHINGTON—A North Korean missile launch site that Pyongyang had previously said it was dismantling appears once again to be operational, according to an independent analysis of updated satellite photos.

President Trump said Wednesday that he would be “very, very disappointed” if the initial reports that North Korea was restoring the launch site at Tongchang-ri turned out to be true, but allowed that it was too early to know if Pyongyang was restoring the site.
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I guess Kim & Trump broke up their love affair. Expect an ICBM test launch any day, the geopolitical equivalent of Kim sticking his thumb in Trump's eye.

Guess the NSA, CIA, DIA, CIA don't know anything about this? There are no ICBM test about to happen. You are just making up stuff again!

 

[EnigmaO01]

Guess the NSA, CIA, DIA, CIA don't know anything about this? There are no ICBM test about to happen. You are just making up stuff again!

Since when does the NSA, CIA, and DIA make public comments on this kind of thing?

Your post is a big fail.

I guess we'll have to wait for the official response from this administration like it usually works, that is, if they readily admit it and Trump doesn't lie about it.

 

[JacksinPA]

The NORKS rushed to finish rehabbing this launch complex within a few days of the failed summit. Why the big rush? A good guess is that they plan to use it soon. And this site is designed for their ICBMs.

 

[bearpoker]

The NORKS rushed to finish rehabbing this launch complex within a few days of the failed summit. Why the big rush? A good guess is that they plan to use it soon. And this site is designed for their ICBMs.

It makes me wonder if Kim blew up the talks on purpose. He got his photo op and went home.

 

[ecofarm]

It makes me wonder if Kim blew up the talks on purpose. He got his photo op and went home.

It's of no benefit to Kim to declare progress with America. His entire domestic propaganda adventure is based on the US being an evil actor. That's why previous Presidents wanted nothing to do with him or his predecessor. I was supportive of Trump's different approach. When the old way doesn't work, try something new. But wisdom was correct. There's nothing in it for us.

 

[lwf]

It's of no benefit to Kim to declare progress with America. His entire domestic propaganda adventure is based on the US being an evil actor. That's why previous Presidents wanted nothing to do with him or his predecessor. I was supportive of Trump's different approach. When the old way doesn't work, try something new. But wisdom was correct. There's nothing in it for us.

I suppose the main risk to Kim is that Trump would scale up the military exercises with SK. But that could play into Kim's hands if there are signs of unrest in NK. What better way to bring the populace back under control than to bring back the US threat?

Still, it's a risky proposition to restart their nuclear tests. If Trump calls their bluff, Kim could face military action. An active war with NK could give Trump the votes he needs to secure another 4 years, so he may just be crazy enough to try it.

 

[ElChupacabra]

I suppose the main risk to Kim is that Trump would scale up the military exercises with SK. But that could play into Kim's hands if there are signs of unrest in NK. What better way to bring the populace back under control than to bring back the US threat?

Still, it's a risky proposition to restart their nuclear tests. If Trump calls their bluff, Kim could face military action. An active war with NK could give Trump the votes he needs to secure another 4 years, so he may just be crazy enough to try it.

It would fly against his image of being a president who doesn't get the US involved in foreign entanglements; that's for sure. Military strikes aren't going to be well received by NK's neighbors either since they're in the firing line should this really go belly up.

 

[lwf]

It would fly against his image of being a president who doesn't get the US involved in foreign entanglements; that's for sure. Military strikes aren't going to be well received by NK's neighbors either since they're in the firing line should this really go belly up.

No doubt. Hopefully the cons will outweigh any pros in his mind.

 

[ThirdTerm]

Commercial satellite imagery from March 2, 2019, shows renewed activity at Sohae, a space launch facility in North Korea. DigitalGlobe/38 North via Getty Images

The original source of the WSJ article is is "38 North", a program of the Stimson Center dedicated to providing the best possible analysis of North Korea. Donald Trump has said he would be "disappointed" if North Korea is confirmed to be rebuilding a rocket launch site. But the launch site was demolished once and it may take more time to make it actually operational, even if North Korea is planning to launch an ICBM again.

Commercial satellite imagery from March 6 of North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station (Tongchang-ri) indicates construction to rebuild the launch pad and engine test stand that began before the Hanoi Summit has continued at a rapid pace. Given that construction plus activity at other areas of the site, Sohae appears to have returned to normal operational status.

At the launch pad, work on the rail-mounted transfer structure appears to have been completed by March 6 and the structure may now be operational. The cranes have been removed from the pad and the overhead trusses that were being installed on the roof have been covered. The mobile structure is now situated at the far end of the launch pad adjacent to the checkout building.

At the engine test stand, poor imagery resolution prevents a clear assessment. However, progress has been made on rebuilding the support structure for the stand, the materials that were there as of March 2 are now gone and debris remains littered across the service apron.

North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launch Facility: Normal Operations May Have Resumed | 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea

 

[EnigmaO01]

No doubt. Hopefully the cons will outweigh any pros in his mind.

You are assuming he thinks logically and doesn't constantly contradict himself. Which he doesn't. And he rarely listens to his experts as we know.

 

[EnigmaO01]

Commercial satellite imagery from March 2, 2019, shows renewed activity at Sohae, a space launch facility in North Korea. DigitalGlobe/38 North via Getty Images

The original source of the WSJ article is is "38 North", a program of the Stimson Center dedicated to providing the best possible analysis of North Korea. Donald Trump has said he would be "disappointed" if North Korea is confirmed to be rebuilding a rocket launch site. But the launch site was demolished once and it may take more time to make it actually operational, even if North Korea is planning to launch an ICBM again.

Taking more time is irrelevant. The fact that he is once again proceeding to rebuilt the site is what is important.

 

[Born Free]

North Korean Missile Site Appears Operational, Images Show - WSJ

Fresh satellite images show construction to rebuild launchpad has moved quickly and appears to have been finished

WASHINGTON—A North Korean missile launch site that Pyongyang had previously said it was dismantling appears once again to be operational, according to an independent analysis of updated satellite photos.

President Trump said Wednesday that he would be “very, very disappointed” if the initial reports that North Korea was restoring the launch site at Tongchang-ri turned out to be true, but allowed that it was too early to know if Pyongyang was restoring the site.
===================================================
I guess Kim & Trump broke up their love affair. Expect an ICBM test launch any day, the geopolitical equivalent of Kim sticking his thumb in Trump's eye.

I guess it would be good to look back to the Clinton days when he gave NK billions to stop their Nuke program. NK laughed all the way to the bank. Obama stuck his head in the sand and gave the green light to NK to build all the Nukes they wanted. Trump comes along and is doing everything he thinks will work to bring NK in tow. As for Kim sticking his thumb in Trump's eye, I believe it was Trump that walked from any deal. And it is Trump that has hard sanctions against NK. Seems to me it is Trump who is doing all the sticking of his thumb in Kim's eye. And Trump is not done yet. Trump also got some, not all of our brave men and woman that died in NK during the war. No president before him was able to accomplish that. So I'm hoping for success with NK. Not failure that many of the liberals would love to see.