September 30, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Satellite images of the NK-China border indicate that trade between the two countries is gradually recovering to pre-pandemic levels. However, this restoration of trade was upended when unusually heavy rains struck the area in late July... Overview of the Dandong, Sinuiju, and Uiju Areas, September 8, 2024. (Copyright © 2024 by…
August 8, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Imagery analysis between February and July 2024 shows a new railcar traffic pattern at the Russia-North Korea border... Overview of the Tumangang-Khasan Rail Crossing at the DPRK-Russia border, July 10, 2024. (Copyright © Airbus DS 2024) Image may not be republished without permission. Please contact imagery@csis.org. [wpdatachart id=6] [wpdatachart id=7] Approximate count of…
July 29, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Despite the goal of advancing denuclearization of the Korean peninsula through leader-to-leader exchanges in 2018 and 2019, thermal infrared (TIR) imagery of the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center around the summit dates reveals limited impact on Yongbyon’s overall operational status.
July 2, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
This second part of the missile operating bases update covers developments at Sakkanmol, Sangnam-ni, Sino-ri, and Yusang-ni Missile Operating Bases over the past several years. .. During the past five years, North Korea has undertaken numerous small and significant changes at…
June 27, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Part 3 of this series builds upon the methodology and findings presented in Part 1, offering a deeper dive into the operational nuances of the Radiochemistry Lab and the centrifuge plant... Thermal infrared (TIR) analysis via LANDSAT 8 and 9 imagery over two years provides key…
June 26, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Part 2 of this series builds upon the methodology and findings presented in Part 1, offering a deeper dive into the operational nuances of the 5MWe Reactor and the Experimental Light Water Reactor... Closeup of normalized land surface temperature calculated from daytime LANDSAT 8 TIR image taken July…
June 17, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
TIR (TIR) analysis via LANDSAT 8 and 9 imagery over two years provides key insights into Yongbyon nuclear facilities' operations, highlighting the intricate strengths and limitations of thermal imagery for operational assessment... Overview of the normalized land surface temperature calculated from daytime LANDSAT 8 thermal infrared (TIR)…
June 10, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Satellite imagery shows that North Korea has undertaken numerous small and some significant changes at most of its ballistic missile operating bases over the past five years... Overview of the Hoejung-ri Missile Operating Base, March 26, 2024 (Copyright © 2024 by Maxar).…
May 28, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
A recent failed launch attempt of another reconnaissance satellite by North Korea is a clear demonstration of the political importance assigned to launches by Kim Jong-un and his desire to meet the goal of launching three satellites in 2024... An April 29, 2024, image of the coastal launch pad at Sohae Satellite Launching Station,…
May 6, 2024, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Satellite imagery indicates that North Korea conducted an unannounced test of a liquid propellant rocket engine from the Yunsong vertical engine test facility during the fourth week of April 2024. Earlier in the month, several sources suggested that North Korea was preparing to conduct another satellite launch. While there were some indications that a launch attempt might occur within the month, it did not.
