North Korea: satellite images show dismantling of missile test facilities - report

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: The Guardian

Satellite images indicate North Korea has begun dismantling key facilities at a site used to develop engines for ballistic missiles, in a first step toward fulfilling a pledge made to US President Donald Trump at a June summit, reports a Washington-based think tank.

The images from 20 July showed work at the Sohae satellite launching station to dismantle a building used to assemble space-launch vehicles and a nearby rocket engine test stand used to develop liquid-fuel engines for ballistic missiles and space-launch vehicles, the 38 North think tank said.

“Since these facilities are believed to have played an important role in the development of technologies for the North’s intercontinental ballistic missile program, these efforts represent a significant confidence-building measure on the part of North Korea,” it said in a report.
...
South Korea’s defence ministry said on Tuesday it plans to reduce guard posts and equipment along the demilitarised zone on its border with the north, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/24/north-korea-satellite-images-show-dismantling-of-missile-test-facilities-report

[forgotmylogin]

1. This is good if it's true.

If the conman had anything to do with it, that doesn't wipe away his other crimes.

[olegramps]

2. I am skeptical. They could be simply be moving them to a more secure site.

[NickB79]

3. Key point: LIQUID-fueled engines. They're moving to solid-fuel ones

The US and Russia abandoned liquid-fueled missiles decades ago because it takes too long to fuel up before launch, in the event of an enemy missile launch.

N. Korea is actively EXPANDING their solid-fuel missile site: http://publicradioeast.org/post/north-korea-reportedly-expanding-ballistic-missile-production-facility

"Unlike liquid-fuel rockets, which must be painstakingly fueled prior to launch, solid-fuel missiles can be deployed almost at a moment's notice – making them less vulnerable to a preemptive strike and therefore far more destabilizing."

It's like saying the US Navy was being dismantled after WWII when we stopped building battleships, while building a whole new fleet of aircraft carriers.

[skypilot]

4. '...reports a Washington-based think tank.'

I actually couldn't bring myself to read much more after that.

[truthisfreedom]

5. Bullshit. What's the rest of the story? Liquid engines

For ballistic missiles are being discontinued by NK. This is an outdated facility that no longer serves any purpose. This is like fighting your neighbor over removing his junk car collection and his concession is to tear down a garage that is about to fall over.