There is concern that Kim Jong-un could be planning a fresh missile test

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

And the news comes just days after another satellite images suggested Kim is also likely to be planning a spectacular parade to mark the occasion on September 9. North Korea has long used Sohae in North Pyongan province to conduct missile tests, including the successful launch of the Kwangmyongsong-3 Unit 2 in 2012. When Kim met with US President Donald Trump in June, the dictator offered assurances that his regime would soon destroy a missile engine test stand. The site was not named initially – but later revealed to be Sohae.

No significant dismantlement activity has taken place at either the engine test stand or the launch pad since August 3 38 North analysis

However, a study, undertaken by North Korea analysts Joseph Bermudez, Frank V Pabian and Jack Liu for North Korea watchdog 38 North, which specialises in analysis of the secretive and isolated communist nation, suggested the efforts to scrap Sohae may have been put on ice. Their report observed: “Commercial satellite imagery from August 16 of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, North Korea’s only operational space launch facility, indicates no significant dismantlement activity has taken place at either the engine test stand or the launch pad since August 3. “At the vertical engine test stand, while significant progress in tearing down the facility was made from July to early August, no new dismantlement activity is apparent since August 3. “The components previously removed remain stacked on the ground.”

The 38 North analysis highlights a lack of activity at the site in recent days

38 North analysis's looked at the Sohae Satellite Launching System

In addition, on the facility’s launch pad, work a rail-mounted transfer building to remove equipment seems to have stalled. The report added: “The same parts of the west and north walls that had been previously removed remain stacked on the ground. “The gantry tower and assembly building are intact. It is still unclear if this activity is associated with dismantling or modification of the structure. “While activity at the site seems to have slowed down, there has only been a slight reduction in the number (from 11 to 7) of trucks and trailers at the Administrative and Security Headquarters.

Kim Jong-un meets US President Donald Trump in Singapore in June

“These vehicles appear to be related to the activities at the engine test stand and launch pad.” Kim could be planning a missile launch to mark the occasion. Last year every North Korea celebration day coincided with such a test. A separate report, also prepared by Mr Bermudez last week, involved the study of satellite imagery of the Mirim Parade Training ground, leading him to conclude the Foundation Day Parade “will probably, at least match but likely surpass the size of the parade held this past February to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army”. Mr Bermudez added: "Parade preparations were first observed in July and appear to be following the pattern noted during recent parades.