S. Korean spy agency: N. Korea continues nuclear activity even after June summit with U.S.

North Korea is presumed to be continuing nuclear and missile activity even after its first summit with the United States in June, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Wednesday, regarding the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies’ report on the North’s operation of at least 13 missile bases, including one in the North's Sakkanmol region. The report attracts attention because it is the South Korean spy agency’s acknowledgement that the North is continuing to develop its nuclear and missile capabilities amid the denuclearization negotiations.

“Seoul and Washington are sharing information (about North Korea's missiles) and closely watching its nuclear and missile facilities and activities,” Kim Sang-gyun, second deputy director of the NIS, was quoted as saying during a closed-door meeting of the National Assembly’s intelligence committee, reporting on the North’s possession of missiles, including the Scud, Rodong, and Musudan missiles.

The South Korean and the U.S. intelligence agencies have secretly and closely watching North Korea’s 13 missile bases through their surveillance assets. They have also completed measures to target nine of them, including the Sakkanmol base. They have also reportedly confirmed another four locations of the North’s intercontinental ballistic missile bases.

U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter, “We fully know about the sites being discussed, nothing new - and nothing happening out of the normal.”


Kwan-Seok Jang jks@donga.com · Hyo-Ju Son hjson@donga.com