North Korea’s continuing nuclear activity

Reports based on U.S. intelligence leaks indicate that North Korea is continuing its weapons programme, despite pledges to denuclearise, casting doubt on its sincerity in peace talks

KEY ALLEGATIONS
Satellite imagery shows facilities around reactors at Yongbyon – North Korea’s only official nuclear enrichment site – upgraded

Uranium enrichment stepped up at two or more secret sites, including Kangson – underground facility believed to have twice enrichment capacity of Yongbyon

North Korea appears to be finalizing expansion of Chemical Material Institute – key plant which produces solid-fuelled ballistic missiles and warhead re-entry vehicles – in city of Hamhung

Pyongyang continuing to produce Transporter Erector Launchers for Pukguksong-2/KN15 medium-range ballistic missiles

RUSSIA 
CHINA
NORTH KOREA
Hamhung
Yongbyon
P’yongyang 
KOREA SOUTH
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
100km 60 miles

Tracked launcher 
Ability to operate offroad makes launch harder to detect

Warhead
Up to 1.7 tonnes. Claimed to be nuclear-capable

Missile uses solid propellant, allowing it to be fired more quickly from mobile launchers

Missile launch tube

9 metres approx



Sources: 38 North, NBC News, Middlebury Institute of International Studies

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