38 North "Buk, Kaeseong Nambuk Joint Liaison Office Complete Destruction Failed"

The Mysterious Object at Sinpo Shipyard is Suspected to be a Small Submarine

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The North Korea specialist media 38 North reported that the Kaesong Inter-Korean Liaison Office building does not appear to have been completely demolished.

The left photo was taken before the demolition in North Korea, and the right photo was taken after the demolition. The building in the front is the Inter-Korean Liaison Office. Photo capture=38 North

On the 19th (local time), 38 North compared the images of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Liaison Office before and after the demolition through analysis of commercial satellite photos taken that day.

38 North assessed that while the building likely suffered significant damage, the satellite images show that the building is still standing. However, part of the roof is presumed to have collapsed. 38 North concluded that because the building consists of both high-rise and low-rise sections, North Korea failed to completely demolish it.

38 North reported that glass fragments from the explosion flew nearly 100 meters and were found in front of the Kaesong Industrial Complex Management Committee office located behind the liaison office.

Separately, 38 North noted that there was no notable movement at the Sinpo Shipyard in Hamgyeongnam-do, but analyzed that a 16-meter-long object that appeared at the end of last month and remains in the same place could be a small submarine.

Based on recently taken commercial satellite images, 38 North stated, "Despite rumors that North Korea's new submarine launch is approaching, no notable activity is observed." They added that the 16-meter-long object spotted at the pier on the 27th of last month remains in the same location.

38 North analyzed that while high-resolution images are needed to identify what the 16-meter-long object is, it is unlikely to be a cylinder housing submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.