By Kim Young Shin

President Moon Jae-in officially affirmed North Korea’s dismantling of its Sohae missile test site located in Dongchang-ri, Cheolsan-gun County, Pyeonganbuk-do Province, on July 25 and welcomed the move by Pyeongyang officials.

“The information authorities in Korea and the U.S. received leads us to understand that North Korea is disassembling its missile engine test site and the launch station, following the destruction of its nuclear test site,” said President Moon during a ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae to welcome five new ambassadors to Seoul, including U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris.

“It is a good sign for the denuclearization of North Korea,” he added.

“If the repatriation of the remains of U.S. soldiers goes well, as promised, it will add momentum to NK-U.S. communication.”

U.S. President Donald Trump also commented on the news.

“New images, just today, show that North Korea has begun the process of dismantling a key missile site and we appreciate that,” said President Trump in remarks delivered at a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 24.

“We had a fantastic meeting with Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un, and it seems to be going well,” he said.

The Sohae Satellite Launching Station is one of the major North Korea facilities for developing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). It includes a missile engine test site that North Korean leader promised to take down during his meeting with the U.S. president in Singapore on June 12.

ysk1111@korea.kr