北, 중장거리미사일 발사대 폐기, 軍, 예의주시

Over in the hermit kingdom.
North Korea appears to have destroyed a facility that plays an integral role in developing mid-range ballistic missiles.
Park Jiwon takes a closer look into the move that's in line with Kim Jong-un's promise of suspending missile testing.
In its satellite imagery analysis report,... U.S.-based North Korea monitoring website 38 North says,... North Korea appears to have destroyed its missile test stand at the Iha-ri test facility near the northwestern city of Kusong , Pyonganbuk-do Province.
The commercial satellite imagery shows that the demolition started in the second week of May,… following North Korea's declaration in mid-April that it will suspend ballistic missile and nuclear tests.
The paper also said the demolition was almost complete a week later.
The stand at the Iha-ri test site was the regime's only known facility for land-based,… canister-launched ballistic missile ejection tests... deemed critical for developing a medium-range solid-fuel ballistic missile.
Solid-fuel missiles can be fired at shorter notice and more discreetly than those powered by liquid fuel.
South Korea's defense ministry, meanwhile, hasn't confirmed the site's demolition.

"The ministry, together with the U.S., is closely watching the moves,... although it is not appropriate for the defense ministry to make specific remarks on foreign media observations of commercial satellite images."

38 North says it is unclear... whether the stand's destruction signifies the total suspension of the North's missile program at the Iha-ri test site,... or simply a small gesture that aims to show Pyongyang's sincerity towards gradual denuclearization.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.