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North Korea soldiers spotted playing volleyball in satellite photos of nuclear test site
The implication of the astonishing images is that it could mean that all the hard work is done and they are just awaiting orders from Kim Jong-un to test fire a nuclear bomb
North Korean soldiers have been spotted getting in some R&R by playing volleyball at its nuclear test site as the world teeters on the brink of WWIII.
The astonishingly pin sharp images captured during the latest satellite flyby of the zone show players out on at least three separate courts at the same time.
The implication is that it could mean that all the hard work is done and they are just awaiting orders from maniac dictator Kim Jong-un to test fire a nuclear weapon.
They come after speculation reported by MirrorOnline last week that Pyongyang is preparing for its sixth nuclear test at the North Portal of the Punggye-ri test site - and amid escalating tensions with the US.
Temperatures there average 14-18C at this time of year - slightly chilly for an enjoyable session out on the volleyball court.
The photographs were published overnight by 38 North , the widely respected North Korea monitoring station at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.
It has been observing changing activity at the site over the last eight weeks - around "the tunnel that North Korea appears to have been preparing for another nuclear test" - and the concern is that it could mean they are relaxing before the 'big day'.
Several games can be spotted being played at the nuclear facility (Photo: DigitalGlobe)
38 North reports: "Imagery does show what may be three volleyball games underway at different locations throughout the facility, and possibly another volleyball net set up at the command center area."
Its analysts - Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jack Liu and Frank Pabian - claim that there could be two reasons for the unexpected activity at the test site:
North Korea leader Kim Jong-un could now be ready to test the nuclear weapon - and just waiting to choose his moment (Photo: REUTERS)
He had been warned not to provoke action in the region by US President Donald Trump - with Washington already having warned it is "ready to hit back with nuclear attacks".
Pyongyang claims to have miniaturised nuclear warheads for use on missiles - and North Korea has been conducting a series of ballistic missile launches in recent months.
North Korea flaunts missiles in show of force amid rising tensions with America
38 North reported: "Regardless, satellite imagery continues to indicate that the Punggye-ri nuclear test site appears able to conduct a sixth nuclear test at any time once the order is received from Pyongyang.
"Possible explanations for the most recent developments are the site and associated preparations for a sixth nuclear test have transitioned to a 'stand-by' status, with personnel being allowed some down-time for recreation.
North Korea has been conducting a series of missile tests for months (Photo: Getty)
"(Or) Pyongyang has initiated a tactical pause in activity at the test site as part of an overall deception plan, delaying the sixth nuclear test until a time when a detonation would achieve the greatest political advantage."
The latest set of photographs published overnight show indications of possible further tunnelling work but no active water pumping, they added.
Volleyball is a popular sport throughout North Korea - although 38 North has never spotted so many games happening at once at the nuclear site, it notes.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/north-korea-soldiers-spotted-playing-10266848
The implication of the astonishing images is that it could mean that all the hard work is done and they are just awaiting orders from Kim Jong-un to test fire a nuclear bomb
North Korean soldiers have been spotted getting in some R&R by playing volleyball at its nuclear test site as the world teeters on the brink of WWIII.
The astonishingly pin sharp images captured during the latest satellite flyby of the zone show players out on at least three separate courts at the same time.
The implication is that it could mean that all the hard work is done and they are just awaiting orders from maniac dictator Kim Jong-un to test fire a nuclear weapon.
They come after speculation reported by MirrorOnline last week that Pyongyang is preparing for its sixth nuclear test at the North Portal of the Punggye-ri test site - and amid escalating tensions with the US.
Temperatures there average 14-18C at this time of year - slightly chilly for an enjoyable session out on the volleyball court.
The photographs were published overnight by 38 North , the widely respected North Korea monitoring station at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.
It has been observing changing activity at the site over the last eight weeks - around "the tunnel that North Korea appears to have been preparing for another nuclear test" - and the concern is that it could mean they are relaxing before the 'big day'.
Several games can be spotted being played at the nuclear facility (Photo: DigitalGlobe)
38 North reports: "Imagery does show what may be three volleyball games underway at different locations throughout the facility, and possibly another volleyball net set up at the command center area."
Its analysts - Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Jack Liu and Frank Pabian - claim that there could be two reasons for the unexpected activity at the test site:
- The soldiers are on stand-by for an imminent nuclear test "with personnel being allowed some down-time for recreation"
- Communist leader Kim Jong-un is fully aware of the satellite's flyby and this is part of a deliberate 'deception plan' - "delaying the sixth nuclear test until a time when a detonation would achieve the greatest political advantage".
North Korea leader Kim Jong-un could now be ready to test the nuclear weapon - and just waiting to choose his moment (Photo: REUTERS)
He had been warned not to provoke action in the region by US President Donald Trump - with Washington already having warned it is "ready to hit back with nuclear attacks".
Pyongyang claims to have miniaturised nuclear warheads for use on missiles - and North Korea has been conducting a series of ballistic missile launches in recent months.
North Korea flaunts missiles in show of force amid rising tensions with America
38 North reported: "Regardless, satellite imagery continues to indicate that the Punggye-ri nuclear test site appears able to conduct a sixth nuclear test at any time once the order is received from Pyongyang.
"Possible explanations for the most recent developments are the site and associated preparations for a sixth nuclear test have transitioned to a 'stand-by' status, with personnel being allowed some down-time for recreation.
North Korea has been conducting a series of missile tests for months (Photo: Getty)
"(Or) Pyongyang has initiated a tactical pause in activity at the test site as part of an overall deception plan, delaying the sixth nuclear test until a time when a detonation would achieve the greatest political advantage."
The latest set of photographs published overnight show indications of possible further tunnelling work but no active water pumping, they added.
Volleyball is a popular sport throughout North Korea - although 38 North has never spotted so many games happening at once at the nuclear site, it notes.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/north-korea-soldiers-spotted-playing-10266848
