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Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A satellite image of Guam seen in a recent photograph of Kim Jong Un may have been taken six years ago, Voice of America reported. The photograph, where the North Korean leader can be seen sitting at a desk, while North Korean military officials, including Kim Rak Gyom, appear to be briefing him, includes a large image of Andersen Air Base on the far right.
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But experts told VOA the image of the U.S. military base dates back to around 2011, the same year former leader Kim Jong Il died.
A closer look of the satellite image in the background shows greenery in an inverted L-shape at the base, a feature that disappeared in Google Earth images by 2012, when construction began at the site, according to the report.
After the location was redeveloped, a station for military aircraft replaced the green L-shaped feature.
Other aspects of the image indicate the image is old and may have been strategically placed in the photograph for propaganda purposes.
A tall building can be seen in the north side of the satellite image, but after 2015 the building was gone, replaced by a rectangular-shaped construction site, according to VOA.
Nick Hansen with Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation told VOA the satellite image indicates the Kim regime is facing constraints.
A military must have the most up-to-date satellite image information, but the photograph shows evidence North Korea may be having a hard time procuring the latest satellite information.
Hansen added North Korea does not have a satellite capable of taking photos and may have had no choice but to purchase satellite images from an overseas internet website.
