US refuses to comment on North Korea's development of new missile
According to Yonhap news agency, the White House refused to comment on information that North Korea continued to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had a summit with US President Donald Trump last June, in which the two sides agreed to work towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
 |
| The Sanumdong research facility, south of the capital Pyongyang, is believed to be North Korea's new missile manufacturing facility. Photo: Washington Post/ VNA |
Previously, on July 30, the Washington Post quoted officials close to US intelligence as saying that there appeared to be two liquid-fuel ICBMs being built at a facility in Sanumdong, on the outskirts of the North Korean capital Pyongyang.
Speaking at a regular press briefing on August 1, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders stated that she "does not comment on any intelligence-related matters."
US State Department spokeswoman Katina Adams also expressed a similar view, stating that she "does not comment on intelligence matters" and said that President Trump "trusts that Kim Jong-un will follow through on the agreement reached in Singapore."
At the summit on June 12, US President Trump affirmed that he would provide security guarantees to North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang's commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. According to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Pyongyang government clearly understands that denuclearization means completely eliminating its weapons of mass destruction development programs, including nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
However, progress on implementing the agreement is said to have been slow after the meeting. Both sides seem to be demanding concrete steps from the other to demonstrate their commitment.
