New U.S. intelligence suggests that North Korea is still actively working to complete a nuclear missile. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has not only failed to denuclearize so far, he has increased his efforts to develop a nuclear weapon, according to a report by NBC News.
Three senior U.S. officials, cited by NBC News, revealed that workers in North Korea have been observed moving warheads out of a known warhead storage facility. The Kim regime has also reportedly tried to hide the entrance to this facility.
The officials also told NBC News that the U.S. government suspects North Korea could produce as many eight nuclear weapons by the end of the year.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump noted on Twitter that missiles had been absent from North Korea's 70th anniversary celebrations. This, he argued, was "a very big and positive statement" from the country.
North Korea has just staged their parade, celebrating 70th anniversary of founding, without the customary display of nuclear missiles. Theme was peace and economic development. “Experts believe that North Korea cut out the nuclear missiles to show President Trump......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2018
...its commitment to denuclearize.” @FoxNews This is a big and very positive statement from North Korea. Thank you To Chairman Kim. We will both prove everyone wrong! There is nothing like good dialogue from two people that like each other! Much better than before I took office.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 9, 2018
A spokesman for the National Security Council told NBC News that despite his outward optimism, Trump has been increasing pressure on Kim's regime:
The president closely directs every aspect of the administration's DPRK policy including the negotiations and the pressure campaign. He is clear-eyed about the challenges and sees this as a unique and fleeting opportunity to use diplomacy to achieve our objectives.
This new information conflicts with reports from South Korean officials on Sept. 5, who said that Kim had voiced his desire to denuclearize by the end of Trump's first term in office. Kim had reportedly made those comments during negotiations for a summit between representatives from North and South Korea.
The Kim family has already promised to denuclearize and then backtracked on that promise six separate times: in 1985, 1992, 1994, 2005, 2007, and 2012.
