North Korea's Dongchang-ri Satellite Launch Site Activity Detected... "Building a New Engine Test Stand?"

VOA Satellite Image Analysis... "Captured Construction Trends"

North Korea launched the Unha-3 from the Dongchang-ri rocket launch site in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province in 2012.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] There are signs that construction of a new building has begun at North Korea's West Sea Satellite Launching Station, which is being closely monitored by South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies.

The Voice of America (VOA) reported that an analysis of satellite images from the private satellite imagery company Planet Labs, dated the 14th (local time), revealed a new building being constructed about 200 meters southeast of the existing engine test stand.

The building is a rectangular structure approximately 30 meters long, featuring 10 square holes on a concrete frame. This building connects to a road extending northeast from the existing engine test site, which was paved between the 28th of last month and the 1st of this month.

David Schmerler, a senior researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and a satellite image analyst, explained, "It could be an observation facility or an improved new engine test stand," adding, "Since it is necessary to monitor North Korea's activities further, it is still too early to determine the building's purpose."

At the Dongchang-ri Satellite Launching Station in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, construction activities have been steadily observed since March, following instructions from Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, to 'modernize and expand' the site. South Korean military and intelligence agencies are closely watching, particularly focusing on the possibility of launching a large long-range rocket claimed to be a 'reconnaissance satellite.'

Previously, North Korea launched the 'Kwangmyongsong-3' long-range rocket from the Dongchang-ri West Sea Satellite Launching Station in April and December 2012, followed by the 'Kwangmyongsong-4' in February 2016 from the same location.

Meanwhile, the recent satellite images also captured what appears to be grain, presumed to be corn, drying near the satellite launch site.

According to VOA, a yellow object covers an area approximately 50 meters wide and 17 meters long in the northern zone of the launch site, about 1 km northwest of the rocket engine test stand. The same yellow object was observed on the helicopter pad near the launch site. First spotted on the 14th, the yellow object lies between the rocket launch pad and the mobile rocket assembly building, covering about one-eighth of the launch site.

Senior researcher Schmerler explained, "The same yellow object was detected on the helicopter pad near the launch site, which is also presumed to be corn." He added, "In the past, satellite images confirmed corn drying in an open area right next to the 5MW reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear facility," noting, "Flat and sunny places have been used for drying corn regardless of their location."

In the past, the U.S.-based North Korea specialist media '38 North' also reported in April-May 2013 that grain was spread out on paved roads at the Yongbyon nuclear facility. At that time, the media speculated that Yongbyon, known as the 'nuclear city,' likely cultivates grain nearby because it must be self-sufficient like other North Korean villages.

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