Speculation grows of looming North Korea rocket test

Fresh satellite images suggest North Korea has completed upgrades at its main satellite launch site, fuelling speculation of a long-range rocket launch to coincide with a major political anniversary in October.

North Korea is barred under UN security council resolutions from launching rockets as that technology can also be used for ballistic missiles.

The US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said Wednesday that analysis of the new pictures showed that construction begun in spring 2015 at the Sohae launch centre had been concluded. The looming rocket launch is considered by many as a disguised ballistic missile test, which could lead to further sanctions against Pyongyang, and increase military tensions on the Korean peninsula, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. The 38 North report also mentioned a note of caution that the satellite imagery did not reveal any signs of preparations to launch a long-range rocket or missile from the facility. “In the coming weeks, if preparations are indeed under way, we would expect to see other on-the-ground indications at Sohae”, 38 North said.

North Korea’s nuclear weapons are “not a plaything” and their future is not up for negotiation, Pyongyang’s ambassador to China said yesterday, ahead of a visit by a US envoy.

“We made it clear in the past that North Korea would respond to the U.S.’ military deterrence and pressure, with our modernized, expanded and strengthened nuclear weapons”, he said. In early May, state media quoted Kim as saying the North would launch satellites into space at the time and locations chosen by the ruling party.

South Korean officials said last week the North completed upgrading the facility to enable it to handle bigger rockets, and a launch could come around the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party in October.

In a rare news conference in Beijing, Ji said the North’s nuclear capability was “not a plaything to be put on the negotiating table, as it is the essential means to protect sovereignty and vital rights from the US nuclear threat and hostile policy”.

When asked about the possibility of the North conducting a launch around October, the country’s deputy chief of mission to the United Nations, Amb.

After meeting with officials in Seoul on Monday, Seiler said the U.S.is ready to engage Pyongyang in the same way it helped broker a deal with Iran.