On Sunday, North Korea announced that they had carried out a test at its long-range rocket site. The site was previously dismantled at the commencement of denuclearization talks with the US but has since been rebuilt by Chinese military forces. The announcement of the missile test follows North Korea’s previous statements, which declared that its resumption of nuclear missile tests depends on the US’s effort in cooperative denuclearization talks. North Korea threatened to seek different methods if it fails to get major US concessions by the end of 2019, however, the future of the negotiations remains unclear.
The test, which occurred over the weekend, was performed at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground. Although specific details of the test remain unclear, an analyst at Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies stated that North Korea tested a solid-fuel engine for an intercontinental ballistic missile. Solid fuel increases the missile’s mobility and decreases its preparation time. Satellite imagery analyzed by CNN on Friday concluded that North Korea may be preparing to resume testing engines.
Read More: N. Korea conducts ‘important test’ at once-dismantled site