Page 11 - AT

A11

N. Korea conducts ‘important test’ at once-dismantled site

By HYUNG-JIN KIM Easley, a professor at Ewha
Associated Press University in Seoul. “With the
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — activity at Sohae, Pyong-
North Korea said Sunday yang is also trying to raise
that it carried out a “very international concerns that
important test” at its long- it may intensify provoca-
range rocket launch site tions and walk away from
that it reportedly rebuilt denuclearization talks next
after having partially dis- year.”
mantled it at the start of The Sohae launching
denuclearization talks with center in Tongchang-ri,
the United States last year. a seaside region in west-
The announcement comes ern North Korea, is where
amid dimming prospects the North has carried out
for a resumption of ne- banned satellite launches
gotiations, with the North in recent years, resulting in
threatening to seek “a new worldwide condemnation
way” if it fails to get major and U.N. sanctions over
U.S. concessions by year’s claims that they were dis-
end. North Korea has said guised tests of long-range
its resumption of nuclear missile technology.
and long-range missile North Korea has said its
tests depends on the Unit- satellite launches are part
ed States. People watch a TV news program reporting North Korea’s announcement with a file footage of of its peaceful space de-
Saturday’s test at the So- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. velopment program. But
hae Satellite Launching 8, 2019. Associated Press many outside experts say
Ground will have “an im- ballistic missiles and rockets
portant effect on chang- and reduces the amount and other key North Kore- the right choice,” he said used in satellite launches
ing the strategic position of of launch preparation an areas. in an interview Sunday on share similar bodies, en-
(North Korea) once again time. The long-range rock- President Donald Trump re- CBS’ “Face the Nation.’’ gines and other technol-
in the near future,” an un- ets that North Korea used acted to the development On Saturday, Trump and ogy. None of North Korea’s
identified spokesman from in either ICBM launches by saying that North Korea South Korean President three intercontinental bal-
the North’s Academy of or satellite liftoffs in recent “must denuclearize.” Moon Jae-in discussed listic missile tests in 2017
National Defense Science years all used liquid propel- “Kim Jong Un is too smart developments related to was conducted at the So-
said in a statement, car- lants. and has far too much to North Korea, and the two hae site, but observers said
ried by the country’s offi- CNN reported Friday that lose, everything actually, leaders committed to con- the site was used to test en-
cial Korean Central News a new satellite image indi- if he acts in a hostile way,” tinuing close communica- gines for ICBMs.
Agency. cated North Korea may be Trump tweeted Sunday. tion, the White House said After his first summit with
North Korea didn’t say preparing to resume test- “North Korea, under the in a statement. Moon’s of- North Korean leader Kim
what the test included. Kim ing engines used to power leadership of Kim Jong Un, fice also released a similar Jong Un in Singapore in
Dong-yub, an analyst at satellite launchers and in- has tremendous economic statement, saying the two June last year,
Seoul’s Institute for Far East- tercontinental ballistic mis- potential, but it must de- leaders had a 30-minute Trump said Kim told him
ern Studies, said that North siles at the site. nuclearize as promised,” phone conversation at that North Korea was “al-
Korea likely tested for the Seoul’s Defense Ministry he said. Trump’s request. ready destroying a major
first time a solid-fuel engine said in a brief statement Trump’s national security The North Korean test “is missile engine testing site”
for an intercontinental bal- later Sunday that South Ko- adviser, Robert O’Brien, meant to improve military in addition to committing
listic missile. rea and the United States added that North Korea capabilities and to shore to “complete denucle-
The use of solid fuel increas- are closely monitoring ac- has a choice to make. up domestic pride and arization” of the Korean
es a weapon’s mobility tivities at the Sohae site “And we hope they make legitimacy,” said Leif-Eric Peninsula.q