Posted on 07/01/2018 6:03:59 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
Even as North Korea engages in diplomacy with the US for denuclearization, US intelligence officials have spotted evidence that points to the communist nation’s unwillingness to fully dismantle its nuclear program while concealing key parts, the Washington Post said Sunday.
The assessment contradicts US President Donald Trump’s remarks that “there is no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea,” following a landmark summit with the North’s leader Kim Jong-un on June 12 in Singapore.
The evidence collected aims to deceive the United States about the number of nuclear warheads in North Korea’s arsenal as well as the existence of undisclosed facilities used to make fissile material for nuclear bombs, the officials told the Washington Post.
Noting the source of the report, experts here are interpreting it as a warning from the US to North Korea that the agreement to denuclearize should be implemented honestly, ahead of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s possible visit to Pyongyang.
“There is a possibility that it’s a warning sign to the North Korea that they are and will be aware of such concealments,” a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University said. “It’s also a push for a more swift progress as the overall delay in process could make room for such tricks,” he added.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reportedly plans to travel to North Korea this week to discuss denuclearization plans in a follow-up to the Singapore summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The US and North Korea were expected to cooperate for follow-up negotiations at a speedy pace, following the summit, but there has been no visible progress so far. North Korea has yet to return the remains of US soldiers who died in the country during the Korean War -- an agreement reached at the summit -- despite Trump’s remarks last week claiming that transfers were under way, according to Pompeo on Sunday.
Suspicions over North Korea’s commitment to denuclearize has been growing as NBC News also reported over the weekend that Pyongyang has in fact recently been increasing fuel production for nuclear weapons at several hidden sites. The US network, citing intelligence officials, said North Korea’s regime was preparing to “extract every concession” from the White House rather than relinquishing its nuclear weapons.
The only uranium enrichment facility North Korea has publicly acknowledged is Yongbyon -- though reports of secret facilities have surfaced.
Experts have voiced concerns that Washington may accept a lukewarm deal centered exclusively on Yongbyon that disregards other underground sites. Pompeo told lawmakers on Wednesday that North Korea remains a nuclear threat, but defended Trump‘s earlier remarks that North Korea no longer remains a nuclear threat.
“I‘m confident what (Trump) intended there was, ’we did reduce the threat,‘” Pompeo told a Senate panel. “I don’t think there‘s any doubt about that.”
“We took the tension level down,” he added.
By Jung Min-kyung (mkjung@heraldcorp.com)
Well, well....
Time to drop some MOABs on everything we know about nuclear-wise to stress prodigious intolerance for such activity.
NBC News. “Intelligence Officials”. Just the kind of people who would want this to be true. How about they share some hard evidence.
That window has now effectively closed.
They want it both ways:
Money AND nukes.
How is this new..?
I’m not too worried about NK fooling U.S. Intel.
Our insistence on verification will be quite intrusive.
No it hasn’t.
This was leaked on purpose to bring that pressure about.
One either believes North Korea or one does not.
I for one do not. There is no reason to.
I would caution “Rocket boy” to walk softly, Trump will not abide his usual “bait and switch” tactics to just acquire cash, and then run back to his old ways.
Resume the war games, keep the carriers parked nearby, and end all negotiations until they are in full compliance.
I’m sure Trump has his antennae up and is watching the Norkie Pillsbury dough boy...he is no fool.
I never bought that fat boy would cave so easily, especially when his power is being threatened...he won’t be “da king” anymore if the Koreas rejoin.
We’ll see what happens.
That’s how it works, you see. China and other nations told our leaders to meet Kim Jong Un & Co. one-to-one, so we did it. That way, they’re out of excuses, when things get ugly. And younger people in the U.S.A. begin to get a real education on the matter.
Our military leaders and the Trump Administration knew what would happen. So did many of us who were involved in whatever capacities during the Cold War or properly educated during the early ‘70s and before.
Granted, there are many baby boomers (including some in military leadership positions) who didn’t want to see what was in front of them. ...no more high-intensity conflicts, etc. Sure. Yeah, right.
"While I hope North Korea has had its come-to-Jesus moment, my gut tells me Pyongyang will never give up its nukes. If I were Kim, I would utilize the old North Korean nuclear diplomacy playbook: declare your intention to give up your weapons but stall, lie and do whatever you can to make negotiations around the terms of such an enterprise bog down for years. All the while, Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and missile capabilities continue to be perfected."
LINK: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/06/26/heres-how-trump-finds-out-if-north-korea-is-serious-about-giving-up-its-nukes.html
You would think after all these years we’d learn our lesson............but, no.
38north.org has the sat photos for anyone who cares to look.
The difference is in what will this administration do about it? The reports of other facilities etc. leaking out now is probably a signal to the NK - don't try it, we know xyz facility(ies) are not the only ones you have.
If (ha, who are we kidding, when) NK is in violation of the agreement, President Trump should move swiftly and decisively to shut down our side of the agreement. I'm guessing that's just a matter of weeks away.
So now it’s “ US intelligence officials”
Who normally publish their findings in the Washington Posf
Because that is more helpful to US national security than letting the Trump administration work the issue through valid intel and diplomatic channels ( sarc)
Is anyone surprised? I'm not. The Nork's have been playing this game of lying and deceit to get what they want for a very long time.
Until the Nork's have a "Berlin Wall" type of moment such as where the North Korean people are allowed to freely leave the country, the North Korean Government starts feeding the people instead of starving them or our own military is welcomed in to supervise the true dismantling of their nuclear program AND the remains of our war dead are turned over respectfully there's just no way in hell the Nork's should get even a modicum of trust from our Government, period.
In short, Kim Jong Un shouldn't be trusted as far as he can be thrown, period.
They wont even share their names
But we can guess
Some of the same “ intelligence officials’” who thought the Iran deal was good policy
Trump and Pompeo are just clueless and naive ...
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