Update on North Korean Rocket Test Facilities: No Imminent Launches, But...

Update on North Korean Rocket Test Facilities: No Imminent Launches, But... 

 

A 38 North exclusive with analysis by Nick Hansen

March 12, 2013

 

Summary

 

Despite rising tensions in the aftermath of new United Nations Security Council sanctionsimposed on North Korea and Pyongyang's pronouncements at the end of 2012 that it would conduct additional rocket tests, new commercial satellite imagery collected from January 2013 through early March show no signs of preparations for launches in the next month at either of the North's two rocket test facilities.

 

There have been recent signs of increased activity at the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground. However, whether that activity is consistent with preparations for a later test, perhaps in May, is unclear since evidence at this point, which would be very early in a launch campaign, remains too ambiguous to reach that conclusion.

 

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In addition, concerns have mounted about Pyongyang's efforts to further develop the KN-08 road mobile missile that may be an intercontinental-range delivery system.

 

In addition to recent reports that the system was spotted on deployment in the North, South Korean press reports in mid-February stated that the KN-08 rocket engine had been tested at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station earlier that month. Analysis of February 16 imagery, however, is inconclusive in confirm‍ing reports of an engine test five days earlier.

 

Construction of a new launch pad and associated facilities at Tonghae continued, but at a slow pace, perhaps because of winter weather. Nevertheless, the North has begun work on a road that could help accelerate future efforts to build the new pad.

 

Source: 38north.org

 

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