The international community should support and encourage the positive steps being undertaken by Pyongyang on its path toward complete denuclearization, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Wednesday as media reports alleging the resumption of activities at a North Korean satellite launching station, which uses technology similar to that used for intercontinental ballistic missiles launches, emerged
BEIJING (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th March, 2019) The international community should support and encourage the positive steps being undertaken by Pyongyang on its path toward complete denuclearization, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Wednesday as media reports alleging the resumption of activities at a North Korean satellite launching station, which uses technology similar to that used for intercontinental ballistic missiles launches, emerged.On Tuesday, US-South Korean website 38 North, which collects information on North Korea, claimed that Pyongyang had started rebuilding the rocket launch pad at its Sohae Satellite Launching Station (Tongchang-ri) in North Pyongan province. North Korea pledged to dismantle the facility during the country's first historic summit with the United States in Singapore last year.
"Speaking about the media reports you are talking about, we have seen them. In fact, we all know that starting from last year, the DPRK [the Democratic People's Republic of Korea] has taken a number of positive measures toward denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. We believe that these steps should be recognized and encouraged," Lu said at a briefing.
The diplomat added that all concerned parties should continue to adhere to a political path in resolving the crisis on the peninsula and work together for the sake of peace and stability in the region.
Pyongyang attempted satellite launches from the Sohae site back in 2012 and 2016. Following the US-North Korea summit, US President Donald Trump said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had pledged to close the "major missile-engine testing site," in an apparent reference to the launching station.
According to satellite images, North Korea did start dismantling the facility in July, tearing down a large building used to store rockets that were to be transported to the launchpad. However, in August, 38 North claimed that dismantling at the site had stopped.
There have been no comments regarding the facility since the second round of denuclearization talks between Trump and Kim concluded in Hanoi last week. Though the meeting started on high note, it ended abruptly, without any deal.
