North Korea Likely Resumed Construction Recently at Site for 'Reconnaissance Satellite Launch'

38 North Detects Construction Signs at North Korea's West Sea Satellite Launch Site
"New 90m Tall Crane"... Expanding Launch Pad Size?
Jung Sung-jang: "Resolving Reconnaissance Satellite Issues and Preparing for Launch"

Signs have been detected that North Korea has resumed activities around the launch pad at the West Sea Satellite Launching Station, where it is expected to launch a 'military reconnaissance satellite.' There are observations that North Korea could launch the reconnaissance satellite, which it had announced last month, as early as the end of this month.

On the 14th (local time), 38 North, a U.S.-based North Korea specialist media outlet, reported based on commercial satellite images taken on the 12th of the Dongchang-ri area in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, that "construction work on the launch pad has restarted in the past two weeks and is progressing rapidly." This is the first sign of resumed construction at this site in half a year since last autumn. The media cited as evidence for the 'resumption of construction' that the fuel and oxidizer tanks, rail-type transport structure panels, new launch pad rings, and most parts of the new tower crane that were in the plaza in front of the launch pad have recently been used or disappeared.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects the West Sea Satellite Launching Station on site

In particular, a new 90-meter-high tower crane has been installed near the rocket launch pad called the 'gantry tower.' This is interpreted as an effort to increase the existing 65-meter-high launch pad by more than 20 meters. However, the rail-type transport structure used to move the launch vehicle is being reassembled at the same height of 32 meters as before, the media explained. This size is sufficient to move satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) like the 'Unha-3' to the gantry tower.

It is unclear whether North Korea will change the height of the launch pad, but there is analysis that the purpose may be to strengthen the structure to transport heavier and larger launch vehicles than before. It is noteworthy that after showing no signs of activity for several months, work has recently accelerated, but the fact that work on the launch pad is still ongoing can paradoxically be interpreted as meaning that a satellite launch in the near future is uncertain.

The scene of a ground test of a high-power solid fuel engine at the West Sea Satellite Launch Center in December last year [Image source=Yonhap News]

The West Sea Satellite Launching Station, also called the 'Dongchang-ri launch site,' has been the location where North Korea has conducted tests related to long-range rockets. It is strongly considered the likely site for launching the first military reconnaissance satellite that North Korea had previously announced. Previously, in April 2012, North Korea publicly conducted an engine combustion test of its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-13 (KN-08), at this site, and in February 2016, it launched the 'Kwangmyongsong-4' satellite.

Jung Sung-jang, head of the Unification Strategy Research Division at the Sejong Institute, said, "The reconnaissance satellite launch, which was announced for April, appears to have been postponed due to abnormal signs found during the preparation process. However, the rapid resumption of construction work on the launch pad can be seen as a signal that the satellite launch countdown has begun. Whether it will be at the end of May or early June remains to be seen."

Jung also noted that despite the strengthening of extended deterrence policies against North Korea following recent consecutive South Korea-U.S. and South Korea-Japan summits, regarding the background of North Korea's suspension of provocations, he mentioned Kim Jong-un's absence and said, "It is suspected that there may be internal problems." Chairman Kim Jong-un visited the National Aerospace Development Administration on the 18th of last month and ordered, "Launch the reconnaissance satellite within the planned timeframe." However, the reconnaissance satellite has not yet been launched, and Chairman Kim has been absent for nearly a month.

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