Satellite shows new activity at North Korean nuclear site

Satellite images of a North Korean nuclear weapons facility from last week show that pumping activity has resumed as the east Asian region remains tense over fears of a sixth atomic test by the country.

The photographs seem to show workers pumping out water at the Punggye-ri north portal, a tunnel believed to have been prepared for an upcoming nuclear test, the monitoring group 38 North said on its website.

"Based on satellite imagery alone it is unclear if this activity indicates that a nuclear test has been cancelled, the facility is in stand-by mode or that a test is imminent," 38 North said. The researchers come from the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

The photographs show a large number of personnel playing volleyball, which 38 North reads as an indication of a propaganda effort by the North Koreans.

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Punggye-ri is a warren of tunnels and testing facilities, and is located deep in the mountains in the northeast of North Korea.

To date North Korea has staged numerous missile tests, including two long-range rocket launches, as well as five nuclear tests as it tries to develop the necessary technology to reach the US mainland with its missiles.

The most recent failed test took place last Friday, and the launch seemed timed to coincide with a UN Security Council meeting on North Korea, chaired by US secretary of state Rex Tillerson.

Missile launches

The United States is negotiating with China on a possible stronger UN Security Council response – it could include a tougher round of sanctions – to counter North Korea's repeated violations of restrictions on missile launches.

The traditional response by the 15-member council has been to boost sanctions, but Beijing has always urged caution in taking too punitive a route as it could irreparably damage the North Korean economy and lead to instability on China’s borders.

The Chinese have described US president Donald Trump's remarks that he would be "honoured" to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a "breakthrough".

While on one level China's relations with the US seem to be improving on the North Korean issue, Beijing remains irritated by the deployment of the US terminal high altitude area defence (THAAD) anti-missile system in South Korea, which this week went "operational".

"China holds a clear and firm position on the issue of THAAD, and we call on the relevant sides to immediately stop the deployment," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a news briefing this week. "We will also firmly take necessary measures to defend our own interests."

Military projects

Yang Chengjun, a senior strategist of missile studies from the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, told the Global Times: "The deployment of THAAD poses a substantial threat to China as the system enables South Korea and its ally to monitor China's military and economic projects in north, northeast and east China."

Relations between China and North Korea have become strained over North Korea’s nuclear programme, but trade appears to be doing very well. During the January-March period, the Voice of America reported, North Korea’s cumulative grain imports from China amounted to 6,512 tons, more than four times the levels a year earlier.