Trump hails DPRK's dismantling of missile site

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US President Donald Trump has welcomed reports that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has started dismantling a key missile test site.

New satellite imagery shows that "the DPRK has begun the process of dismantling a key missile site, and we appreciate that," Trump said on Tuesday at an event for military veterans in Kansas City, Missouri.

July 20, 2018: Figure shows that the environmental shelter is removed and other dismantlement activities underway at the engine test stand. /VCG Photo

He also referred to the repatriation of the remains of US troops who were killed during the Korean War at the event.

“As you may know we’re also working to bring back the remains of your brothers in arms who gave their lives to Korea,” Trump said. “I hope that very soon these fallen warriors will begin coming home to lay at rest in American soil.”

Hitting back at criticism that the summit with Kim in Singapore has so far yielded few concrete results, Trump suggested his newfound rapport with Kim was bearing fruit.

July 24, 2018: Veterans cheer as US President Donald Trump takes to the stage to address the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ 119th VFW national convention in Kansas City, Missouri. /VCG Photo

"We had a fantastic meeting with Chairman Kim and it seems to be going very well," the president added.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo echoed Trump's stance the same day that the DPRK's move is consistent with a commitment Pyongyang made at Trump-Kim summit last month.

But he also said that the country "must go further and fully denuclearize" when asked at a joint news conference what further steps were needed by the DPRK.

July 24, 2018: Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state, listens during a news conference at the Australia-US Ministerial (AUSMIN) consultations at Stanford University's Hoover Institution in Stanford, California. /VCG Photo

Pompeo made the remarks after meetings with his Australian counterpart in California on Tuesday.

A US research group released its analysis of new satellite imagery on Monday, indicating that Pyongyang has begun taking down a processing building and a rocket-engine test stand that had been used to test liquid-fuel engines at its Sohae Satellite Launching Station while Pyongyang has offered no details as to how it might go about this.

It has also appeared to drag out discussions on the promised return of American soldiers’ remains.

Washington hoped the DPRK would return about 50 sets of remains within two weeks but details were still uncertain, a senior US defense official said last week.

(Cover: US President Donald Trump gestures as he addresses the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ 119th VFW national convention in Kansas City, Missouri, July 24, 2018. /VCG Photo)

(With input from Reuters)