WASHINGTON — U.S. spy agencies suspect that North Korea is building new missiles in the same research facility that manufactured the country’s ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States, according to a recent report by The Washington Post, which cited officials who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to describe classified intelligence.
These officials say new evidence, including satellite photos taken in recent weeks, suggests that work is underway on at least one and possibly two liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles at a research facility in Sanumdong on the outskirts of Pyongyang.
The report casts further doubt on President Donald Trump’s claims of victory last month in disarmament talks with North Korea. After the president met with Pyongyang’s leader Kim Jong Un in a high-profile summit, Trump declared on Twitter “There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.”
RELATED
Defense officials don't have family DNA samples for hundreds of troops missing from the Korean War.
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Tuesday played down the significance of the Post report.
"It suggests that this is a process," she told Fox News of U.S. efforts to denuclearize North Korea. "Things don't change overnight," Conway later added.
Trump asserted last week that his administration's plan to dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons is "going very well." Trump made his remarks after the North Korea-focused 38 North website released recent satellite imagery that seems to show dismantlement underway at Sohae.
But his comment seemed at odds with his own secretary of state, Mike Pompeo who said any such step would have to be confirmed by international inspectors and that North Korea continued to produce fuel for nuclear weapons despite Kim's pledge to denuclearize. Pompeo said there was "an awful long way to go" before North Korea could no longer be viewed as a nuclear threat.
According to the Post, U.S. officials suspect that North Korea’s strategy is possibly to assert that they have fully denuclearized by declaring and disposing of 20 warheads while retaining dozens more.
Putin has declared victory in the eastern Ukraine region of Luhansk, but the high cost of Russian gains may limit a new advance.
Sunday’s statement comes as North Korea’s neighbors say the country is ready for its first nuclear test in five years
Air Force linguists scrambled to keep up through the Afghanistan withdrawal and, now, the war in Ukraine.
The new aid also included ammunition drawn from U.S. stockpiles for American-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems.
Some 6,000 people, including Navy, Army and Air Force families, suffered nausea, headaches, rashes and other symptoms.
The Pentagon's current message is "business as usual."
Emails obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune confirm that federal authorities are probing discrimination claims involving Gov. Greg Abbott’s multibillion-dollar border initiative.
Historically a mirror version of the active-duty side, reservists are taking the lead in some areas
The Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center wants to do a better job collecting data so it can identify trends that could improve future training events.
Experts are split on the Army's quick reversal of high school education waivers, but some applicants are left out in the cold.
"It was clear from the onset and confirmed throughout our visit that volunteers played a critical role in the defense of Kyiv, yet their role has not been systematically studied."
President Joe Biden is bestowing the nation’s highest military honor to four Army soldiers for their heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Vietnam War.
Judges should deliver their decision in the coming weeks.
Retired Vice Adm. Rich Brown was named accountable for the loss of the amphibious ship Bonhomme Richard but was ultimately cleared of wrongdoing in December. Six months later, he's facing censure from the Navy secretary.
The last remaining Medal of Honor recipient from World War II will lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol.
Load More