North Korea Halts Construction of New Long-Range Rocket Launch Facilities

North Korea Halts Construction of New Long-Range Rocket Launch Facilities

 

A 38 North exclusive with contributions by Nick Hansen

July 23, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary

 

New commercial satellite imagery confirm‍s that major construction projects at the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground have been halted. These projects-the building of a new launch pad, missile assembly building and launch control center-are designed to handle larger rockets than the Unha-3 space launch vehicle (SLV) able to handle heavier payloads and to fly greater distances.  

 

Work slowed and stopped at the end of 2012. While it was expected that construction would continue this spring, new imagery indicates that work had not resumed as of late May 2013, almost eight months later.

 

Exactly why construction has halted remains unclear. Initial speculation at the end of 2012 focused on the need for equipment and troops elsewhere to repair damage done by last summer's typhoons and heavy rains.

 

That explanation now seems less plausible given the amount of time that has passed since last year's rains. An alternative explanation is that the DPRK may have decided that testing from the modern, already completed Sohae Satellite Launching Station will be sufficient to support its development of rockets larger than the Unha. Or the stoppage may reflect a decision either to slow or even halt development of larger rockets.

 

If work resumes, completion of the new launch facilities at Tonghae would appear to be at least a year behind the estimate of their original schedule. Depending on the pace of renewed construction, the facility may not be complete until 2017.

 

Read the full analysis and view satellite imagery.

 

Source: 38north.org

 

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