Negotiations with the US are deadlocked, North Korea is ready to launch a new missile from a submarine

Leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: Reuters

NewspaperChosun(South Korea) on June 14, citing information from 38 North, a website of Johns Hopkins University that specializes in monitoring information about North Korea, said that Pyongyang appears to be ready to test a new submarine-launched ballistic missile at the country's Sinpo shipyard.

“Recent commercial satellite imagery of North Korea’s Sinpo shipyard indicates continued work on submarine-launched ballistic missiles,” 38 North said.

According to 38 North, changes were made to the ship protection area, including the installation of 12 cranes along the wharf between April 11 and May 5.

“These cranes will assist in offloading supplies and light equipment down to the submarine's hold and onto the launch barge,” 38 North added.

Workers are believed to have moved a 2,000-ton submarine to another location as they installed cranes at the shipyard.

“They moved the submarine and set up a floating platform for a submarine-launched ballistic missile test in the same place. This means they are preparing for an important operation,” a military officer commented.

“North Korea has deliberately revealed the schematics of new ballistic missile models, including the Pukguksong-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile. Considering recent developments, North Korea may be trying to put pressure on the US,” said Shin Jong-woo, chairman of the South Korean National Defense and Security Council.

No sanctions relief

“Everybody is trying to circumvent the sanctions, but the sanctions are hurting them (North Korea),” President Trump said in an interview with the news agency.Fox Newson June 14 when asked about allegations that North Korea violated sanctions through shipping activities at sea.

President Trump affirmed that sanctions against North Korea remain in effect.

“We never lift sanctions,” Mr. Trump said.

According to the White House owner, the US is having a "good relationship" with North Korea, unlike before when Pyongyang was still testing long-range missiles and nuclear weapons capable of attacking the US.

“You don’t see those (tests) anymore. We’re in a much different position. I’m in no rush,” Mr. Trump said.

Earlier this week, President Trump also said he was in no rush to reach a deal with North Korea. Meanwhile, nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have remained deadlocked since the second US-North Korea summit in late February.

The reason why the recent meeting between President Trump and leader Kim Jong-un did not achieve the desired results is said to be due to the difference in the two sides' stance on denuclearizing North Korea in exchange for lifting sanctions from the US.

President Trump said on June 11 that he had received a “beautiful and warm” letter from leader Kim Jong-un, and expressed optimism about the future of US-North Korea agreements.

“I could have easily made a deal, but I wanted a deal that made sense. I could have walked away with a deal with North Korea,” Trump said.

“I’m in no rush. They’re not testing nuclear anymore. They’re not testing anything anymore. They’re just launching some short-range missiles, as others have,” the US president added.