5/21/2014
SEOUL – Satellite images released Tuesday show that North Korea has built several structures at its missile base in the northwestern region of Sohae since the beginning of the year, indicating that the country may be preparing to test a new type of missile.
The images, taken in April and May, were posted on 38north.org, a U.S. Web site that focuses on North Korea.
One of the images on the Web site shows an unidentified circular structure that is about 50 meters (163 feet) in diameter.
The Web site’s experts said it was “too soon in the construction process to positively identify the purpose of these new facilities. However, one working hypothesis is that North Korea is building a new complex for future training and rocket launches, possibly for new generations of mobile missiles such as the KN-08 ICBM.”
The North Korean regime has shown off the KN-08 at parades but has never launched it.
An area around the Sohae complex has been cleared and may be used to test transporter-erector launchers (TEL), the experts said.
The North Koreans have also paved a road that links the two new structures to the missile assembly building located one kilometer (0.62 miles) to the southeast, the experts said.
“Construction on the launch pad and gantry used for previous launches of the Unha-3 SLV started in August 2013 is continuing at a slower pace than initially projected, possibly because of higher priority work at Sohae. The estimated completion date now appears to be mid-to-late summer 2014,” the experts said.
North Korea’s military capabilities would expand substantially if it succeeded in launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from a TEL.
The South Korean armed forces, meanwhile, said three North Korean navy ships crossed the maritime border between the Koreas on Tuesday and turned back north after warning shots were fired.
source
SEOUL – Satellite images released Tuesday show that North Korea has built several structures at its missile base in the northwestern region of Sohae since the beginning of the year, indicating that the country may be preparing to test a new type of missile.The images, taken in April and May, were posted on 38north.org, a U.S. Web site that focuses on North Korea.
One of the images on the Web site shows an unidentified circular structure that is about 50 meters (163 feet) in diameter.
The Web site’s experts said it was “too soon in the construction process to positively identify the purpose of these new facilities. However, one working hypothesis is that North Korea is building a new complex for future training and rocket launches, possibly for new generations of mobile missiles such as the KN-08 ICBM.”
The North Korean regime has shown off the KN-08 at parades but has never launched it.
An area around the Sohae complex has been cleared and may be used to test transporter-erector launchers (TEL), the experts said.
The North Koreans have also paved a road that links the two new structures to the missile assembly building located one kilometer (0.62 miles) to the southeast, the experts said.
“Construction on the launch pad and gantry used for previous launches of the Unha-3 SLV started in August 2013 is continuing at a slower pace than initially projected, possibly because of higher priority work at Sohae. The estimated completion date now appears to be mid-to-late summer 2014,” the experts said.
North Korea’s military capabilities would expand substantially if it succeeded in launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from a TEL.
The South Korean armed forces, meanwhile, said three North Korean navy ships crossed the maritime border between the Koreas on Tuesday and turned back north after warning shots were fired.
source
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