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A satellite image of the Sakkanmol missile base taken on Mar. 28, 2018
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S. Korean intelligence agency says it already knew about bases and their activities
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) delivered a report to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on Nov. 14 in connection with claims by the US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) that North Korea is operating missile bases at locations including Sakkanmol in Hwangju County, North Hwanghae Province. In its report, the NIS said that it was “already aware” and that activities at the locations were “continuing at normal levels.” It also said North Korea had continued working on nuclear development and nuclear warhead miniaturization even after a summit with the US on June 12. In a press briefing at the National Assembly that morning, the committee’s ruling and opposition party ranking members – Kim Min-ki from the Democratic Party and Lee Eun-jae from the Liberty Korea Party – said they had received the report following a discussion with the NIS on “matters related to North Korean missile bases.” The Intelligence Committee reported the NIS as having stated that it was “closely tracking other missile bases with interest” and reported on “the current status of missiles possessed by North Korea, including the Scud and Rodong types.” The committee members went on to quote the NIS as reporting that South Korea and the US were “jointly assessing and sharing related matters” and “closely observing related facilities and activities related to North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles.” In particular, attendees quoted the NIS as saying North Korea was “believed to be involved in nuclear development and nuclear warhead miniaturization efforts,” adding that it was “closely observing related trends.” At a plenary session of the National Assembly National Defense Committee the same day, Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo said, “We are aware of that [nuclear development] information,” adding that it had been “shared through undisclosed reports when [National Defense Committee members] visited the Joint Chiefs of Staff.” In response to the NIS report, Blue House spokesperson Kim Eui-kyum, who is current accompanying President Moon Jae-in on his visit to Singapore, said, “We are negotiating right now to halt that kind of nuclear activity and achieve complete denuclearization.” By Song Gyung-hwa and Kim Bo-hyeop, staff reporters Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
