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New activity at North Korean nuclear test site

US spy satellites detect activity at North Korean nuclear test site, By Barbara Starr, Elise Labott and Zachary Cohen, CNN, June 20, 2017

Story highlights

  • The activity appears to involve some modifications around one of the tunnel entrances to an underground test area
  • US officials have known that the site is ready to conduct an underground test for some time
 US spy satellites have detected new activity at North Korea’s underground nuclear test site for the first time in several weeks, two US officials told CNN.
The activity appears to involve some modifications around one of the tunnel entrances to an underground test area.
The officials said it is not yet clear if the activity indicates a sixth nuclear test is imminent, but noted there is concern that North Korea could set off a test during Wednesday’s visit to Washington by top Chinese diplomats and military officials.
US officials have known that the site is ready to conduct an underground test for some time.
Two senior US officials with direct knowledge also told CNN that military options for North Korea have recently been updated, and will be presented to President Donald Trump for a decision to act if there is a nuclear test.
However, there is no indication whether any military response would actually happen……
In a recent exchange with Sen. Lindsay Graham on Capitol Hill, Defense Secretary James Mattis took an unusually specific stand on US military policy.
Graham asked: “Is it the policy of the Trump administration to deny North Korea the capability of building an (intercontinental ballistic missile) that can hit the American homeland with a nuclear weapon on top? Is that the policy?”
Mattis answered simply: “Yes.”
Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are hosting their Chinese counterparts on Wednesday for the US-China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue in Washington. At the bilateral talks tomorrow, officials say the US is looking to use trade as a weapon with China to put more pressure on North Korea.
Most estimates suggest that Kim’s unpredictable regime is between three and five years away from achieving its nuclear ambitions. http://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/20/politics/us-spy-satellites-north-korea-nuclear-test/index.html

June 21, 2017 - Posted by | North Korea, weapons and war

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