Report Reveals Undisclosed North Korean Missile Base Near China Border Posed Potential Nuclear Threat to East Asia and U.S.
A new report reveals the existence of a previously undisclosed North Korean missile base situated close to its border with China. The facility, named Sinpung-dong, is approximately 27 kilometers from the Chinese frontier and is believed to house up to nine intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) along with their mobile launchers, as per the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report released on Wednesday.
The secret base is estimated to be one of approximately 15-20 undeclared ballistic missile bases and warhead storage facilities in North Korea. The report is based on satellite image analysis, interviews with North Korean defectors and officials, declassified documents, and open-source data.
The presence of these missiles could potentially pose a nuclear threat to East Asia and the United States, according to the CSIS report. North Korea’s weapons program has seen significant advancements under leader Kim Jong Un, with rapid modernization of its military forces, development of new weapons, and testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching almost any part of the United States.
These actions violate United Nations sanctions that restrict North Korea’s access to materials and weapons. Additionally, there are concerns regarding increased cooperation between North Korea and Russia, particularly since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, with North Korean troops being deployed on the frontlines. This could potentially lead to Russia aiding Pyongyang’s technology and supply lines in exchange.
The newly disclosed base is part of North Korea’s efforts to strengthen its nuclear program, according to the report. The base spans 22 square kilometers, larger than New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, and is strategically located in a narrow mountain valley, offering geographical advantages that might deter countries like the United States from targeting it due to potential collateral damage in adjacent China.
Construction on the base began in 2004, as revealed by satellite images, and it has been operational since 2014. The report indicates that the base has been well-maintained and continues to be actively developed, suggesting ongoing advancements in North Korea’s missile testing.
The exact model of ballistic missile stored at the base remains unclear, but CSIS researchers believe it could be equipped with North Korea’s Hwasong-15 or Hwasong-18 ICBMs, or a different type of ICBM yet to be disclosed. The base is also believed to have transporter launchers or mobile launchers, which can swiftly move to new positions when needed.
During times of crisis or war, these launchers and missiles are expected to exit the base, link up with special warhead storage/transportation units, and conduct launches from dispersed pre-surveyed sites, according to the report. The facility includes various structures such as entrance checkpoints, headquarters buildings, warehouses, missile support facilities, and small housing buildings. Some of these have been camouflaged with vegetation to conceal their entrances, making them hard to locate in satellite images except during winter when foliage is sparse.
The secret base forms part of North Korea’s “missile belt” consisting of several other bases, some of which CSIS has covered in separate reports. These bases are key components of Pyongyang’s evolving ballistic missile strategy and expanding strategic-level nuclear deterrence and strike capabilities, according to the report.
North Korea is believed to possess between 40 and 50 nuclear warheads, along with the means to deliver them across the region and potentially to the US mainland. Kim Jong Un has recently increased his rhetoric, pledging to enhance the country’s nuclear program and threatening to use it against South Korea if provoked.