American Think Tank Reports Location of Secret Missile Sites in North Korea

The Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington has identified 13 secret operational sites for ballistic missiles in North Korea. The findings of this institution are considered a new challenge to Trump's recent policies towards Pyongyang. The Center for Strategic and International Studies is a major and well-known think tank based in the United States. Researchers from this think tank stated on November 12 that they were able to monitor and locate 13 previously unreported sites in North Korea using satellite imagery. They also suggested that in addition to these 13 sites, seven other facilities may be operational in North Korea, which Pyongyang has kept hidden. The report states, 'If a complete and verifiable agreement with North Korea is to be reached, these sites are ones that should be declared and disarmed. [North Korea] can use these bases for any ballistic missile operations, from short-range missiles to intercontinental missiles.' The Center for Strategic and International Studies indicates that Pyongyang has meticulously camouflaged these sites for decades to prevent damage to them in the event of a preemptive strike on North Korea or in the case of a potential war, ensuring they remain operational. The report is described as a new challenge to Washington's policies towards Pyongyang. It also highlights the difficulties and complexities ahead for the complete denuclearization of North Korea, as Washington has demanded. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, had stated after a historic meeting in Singapore with Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, that the country 'is no longer a nuclear threat.' In recent weeks, the U.S. President has made statements indicating that he does not intend to rush the negotiations with North Korea, or as he put it, that the issue of denuclearization is 'not a time game': 'Whether it takes two years, three years, or five months, it doesn't matter. [Currently] there are no missile or nuclear tests.' After the meeting between the two leaders in Singapore, a new political process was initiated to 'move towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.' The U.S. Secretary of State has been in contact with senior North Korean officials, including one of the most important and influential advisors to the country's leader, and negotiations have also taken place. Recently, it has been reported that Trump and Kim will meet for the second time. However, last week, the U.S. State Department announced that the latest round of negotiations between Mike Pompeo and Kim Yong-chol 'has been postponed.' Shortly thereafter, the South Korean Foreign Minister quoted U.S. officials as saying that Pyongyang has requested to cancel the upcoming meeting. North Korea has not hidden its dissatisfaction over issues such as the continuation of sanctions in recent months. Meanwhile, Washington has emphasized that sanctions will remain in place until denuclearization is completed. Seoul is making significant efforts to continue the dialogue and negotiations that have developed in this area. On the other hand, some analysts say that one should not be optimistic about North Korea's actions. For example, Abraham Denmark, director of the Asia program at the well-known Wilson Center, told the Associated Press, 'Despite all the actions, North Korea today is as dangerous as it was a year ago.'