{"id":37306,"date":"2019-12-08T18:16:40","date_gmt":"2019-12-08T18:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/12\/08\/north-korea-conducts-important-test-at-once-dismantled-launch-site\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:10:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:10:09","slug":"north-korea-conducts-important-test-at-once-dismantled-launch-site","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/flashpoints\/2019\/12\/08\/north-korea-conducts-important-test-at-once-dismantled-launch-site\/","title":{"rendered":"North Korea conducts \u2018important test\u2019 at once-dismantled launch site"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SEOUL, South Korea \u2014 North Korea said Sunday that it carried out a \u201cvery important test\u201d at its long-range rocket launch site that it reportedly rebuilt after having partially dismantled it at the start of denuclearization talks with the United States last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The announcement comes amid dimming prospects for a resumption of negotiations, with the North threatening to seek \u201ca new way\u201d if it fails to get major U.S. concessions by year\u2019s end. North Korea has said its resumption of nuclear and long-range missile tests depends on the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday\u2019s test at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground<\/a> will have \u201can important effect on changing the strategic position of (North Korea) once again in the near future,\u201d an unidentified spokesman from the North\u2019s Academy of National Defense Science said in a statement, carried by the country\u2019s official Korean Central News Agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

North Korea didn\u2019t say what the test included. Kim Dong-yub, an analyst at Seoul\u2019s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said that North Korea likely tested for the first time a solid-fuel engine for an intercontinental ballistic missile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The use of solid fuel increases a weapon\u2019s mobility and reduces the amount of launch preparation time. The long-range rockets that North Korea used in either ICBM launches or satellite liftoffs in recent years all used liquid propellants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN reported Friday that a new satellite image indicated North Korea may be preparing to resume testing engines <\/a>used to power satellite launchers and intercontinental ballistic missiles at the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seoul\u2019s Defense Ministry said in a brief statement later Sunday that South Korea and the United States are closely monitoring activities at the Sohae site and other key North Korean areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\t