U.S. President Donald Trump declared Monday that he is “very happy” with the pace of ongoing negotiations with North Korea to end Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program, rebuffing news accounts to the contrary.
“A Rocket has not been launched by North Korea in 9 months. Likewise, no Nuclear Tests. Japan is happy, all of Asia is happy,” Trump said on Twitter. “But the Fake News is saying, without ever asking me (always anonymous sources), that I am angry because it is not going fast enough. Wrong, very happy!”
Later Monday, the U.S.-based North Korea monitoring group 38 North said recent satellite images show North Korea has begun dismantling key facilities at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station on the country’s northwest coast.
The satellite images show the dismantling of a rail-mounted processing building, where space launch vehicles are assembled before being moved to the launch pad, and the nearby rocket engine test stand, where liquid-fuel engines are developed for ballistic missiles and space launch vehicles, 38 North said.
38 North analyst Joseph Bermudez called the move an “important first step towards fulfilling a commitment” made by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his summit with Trump in Singapore.
A day after the summit last month Trump said in a tweet, “There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Korea.”
