North Korea has suspended its tests of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, but that halt doesn't apply to medium- and short-range missiles. US analysts suggest that the “Christmas gift” North Korea has recently threatened refers to a resumption of long-range ballistic missile tests.
North Korea has expanded work at a factory associated with the production of long-range nuclear missiles, NBC News reports, citing satellite photos.
The photos, produced by the private Earth-imaging firm Planet Labs, show that a new structure was built at the March 16 Factory in Pyongsong to “accommodate the raising of a launcher arm”, said Jeff Lewis, an expert in nuclear non-proliferation with the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
“We believe North Korea erects this structure when the facility is involved in producing or modifying [intercontinental ballistic missile] launchers,” Lewis told NBC.
He added that there is “activity at a number of locations” indicating that North Korea is preparing for an expansion of their intercontinental ballistic missile programme.
The analyst told CNN in a separate statement that the factory is also involved in producing trucks for the military, so its expansion could “represent a growing capability of North Korea to produce these trucks domestically.”
Pyongyang halted its tests of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles last year,…
