Commemorating the 2017 Hwasong-12 IRBM Launch?
Key Findings
- Satellite imagery of the No. 112 Factory (sometimes identified as the January 12th Factory) located in Kusong, North Pyongan suggests that North Korea is constructing a monument memorializing its first successful Hwasong-12 intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) launch on May 14, 2017.
- Kusong, located approximately 40 kilometers north of the Sino-ri missile operating base, appears to be a launch site of choice for both IRBM class and shorter-range missiles, as was seen in the recent May 9, 2019 test launches.
- North Korea has constructed memorials at other ballistic missile test sites such as the July 4, 2017 Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch site at Panghyon, North Pyongan and the November 28, 2017 Hwasong-15 ICBM launch site at Pyongsong, South Pyongan.
Satellite imagery of the No. 112 Factory (sometimes identified as the January 12th Factory) suggests that North Korea is constructing a monument memorializing its first successful Hwasong-12 intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) launch on May 14, 2017.
This test launch was conducted from an improvised site (40.065666° 125.209409°) at the entrance to the No. 112 Factory located in Kusong, North Pyongan using a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL). Approximately a year later, construction of what appears to be a small monument began at this location. North Korea has constructed memorials at other ballistic missile test sites such as the July 4, 2017 Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch site at Panghyon, North Pyongan and the November 28, 2017 Hwasong-15 ICBM launch site at Pyongsong, South Pyongan.
The monument at the No. 112 Factory appears to still be under construction. Work, however, appears to have been suspended about seven months ago for unknown reasons. Current imagery this month suggests the suspension continues.
Currently, the potential memorial measures approximately 27.5-meters-long and, at its widest point, 10-meters-wide.