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| North Korean cosmodromes (Image: Wiki Commons) |
By Ankit Panda
A new analysis of satellite imagery suggests that the DPRK took steps to reinvigorate its launch site at Tonghae.
Against the back drop of all the hullabaloo surrounding China’s decision to unilaterally impose an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) last week, a report emerged that North Korea took steps to resume construction of new facilities at the Tonghae Satellite Launching ground (also known as Musudan-ri). A report published by the 38 North blog of the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies suggests that the secretive North Korean regime has opted to continue building “a launch pad, missile assembly building and launch control center … to test future generations of larger, more capable rockets.” The construction was on a one-year hiatus.
Nick Hansen, the author of the report, speculates that given current rates of progress on Tonghae, the entirety of the new facilities may not become operational before 2017. Hansen, an expert in imagery analysis, suggests that current satellite evidence gives no reason to expect a test launch before the end of the year. I encourage readers to take a look at Hansen’s complete report, which examines the available satellite imagery in some detail in support of his claims.
Read the full story at The Diplomat