The new satellite images show support vessels and a crane, suggesting possible preparations for another test of a submarine launch test from a barge towed out to sea.
KCNA via KNS/AFP/Getty Images
PHOTO:This undated picture released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency on July 23, 2019 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting a newly built submarine at an undisclosed location.
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The new satellite imagery echoes similar analysis released in June by 38 North, another think tank that specializes in analysis of North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs.
The possibility of an additional submarine launched test later this year could be a complicating factor to the possibility of further U.S. and North Korean denuclearization talks.
President Donald Trump has downplayed the nine short-range ballistic missile tests that North Korea has carried out since May because they are not included in his agreement with Kim to not test long-range ballistic missiles or nuclear weapons.
“Obviously we are concerned about the short-range missile tests,” Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters on Wednesday at a Pentagon briefing.
But he added that, “on the other hand we’re not going to overreact.”
Esper said the administration did not want to “close the door to diplomacy.”
But some analysts believe the Trump administration is giving North Korea too much latitude to continue developing new weapons systems that indicate it may not be interested in a long-term deal to end its nuclear weapons program.
“These kinds of activities seem to suggest that the North Koreans are not really interested in blowing back their nuclear program,” said Tom Karako, who works at CSIS, but did not participate in the Beyond Parallel analysis of the new satellite photos.
“Unfortunately, we’re seeing too much patience from the Trump administration and North Korea is taking advantage of that,” said Karako.
Alluding to the maximum pressure campaign of sanctions targeting North Korea, Karako characterized the administration as exercising a strategy of “maximum patience.”
“We’re just being a little too tolerant, so long as they don’t launch ICBM’s,” said Karako.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
