Military, Nuclear Weapons

Sohae Launch Facility Update—Work Continues; Concealment of Launch Pad and Engine Test Stand

March 9, 2019, by and

Key Findings

  • Commercial satellite imagery acquired on both March 6 and March 8, 2019, shows that North Korea has continued preparations on the launch pad and the vertical engine test stand at the Sohae Launch Facility.
  • Based on past practices, these activities could be consistent with preparations for the delivery of a rocket to the launch pad or engine to the test stand; or, they could be North Korean coercive bargaining tactics after the failed Hanoi summit.
  • Activities at both the launch pad and engine test stand, including the positioning of rail mounted structures adjacent at these facilities could be attempts to shroud preparations for stacking stages of a rocket (for a new satellite launch) or engine testing with the caveats noted above.
  • North Korea is banned by numerous UN Security Council resolutions (e.g., UNSCR 2087) from carrying out rocket launches from this facility.
  • Launch Pad: The rail mounted transfer/processing structure has been repositioned back adjacent to the processing building and over the underground rail transfer point (used to conceal delivery of rocket components). The environmental covers around the umbilical tower have also been closed on the launch tower. Thereby, concealing any activity within them.
  • Vertical Engine Test Stand: Environmental panels on the vertical test engine stand superstructure have been installed. The rail-mounted processing/environmental shelter—used in the past to both protect rocket engines while they are being prepared for placement in the test stand and to hide any activity from overhead reconnaissance assets—has also been assembled and positioned adjacent to the test stand.

Sohae (Tongchang-ri) Launch Facility

 

The vertical engine test stand as seen on March 8, 2019. (Copyright © 2019 by Airbus) (Click each image to view larger size)

The launch pad as seen on March 8, 2019. (Copyright © 2019 by Airbus)

This site will be monitored for further activity consistent with readying the launch facility for possible use in the future.


Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. is an internationally recognized analyst, award-winning author, and lecturer on North Korean defense and intelligence affairs and ballistic missile development in developing countries. He is concurrently senior fellow for Imagery Analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Security (CSIS); senior adviser and imagery analyst for the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK); author for IHS Markit (formerly the Jane’s Information Group); and publisher and editor of KPA Journal. Formerly, he has served as founder and CEO of KPA Associates, LLC, senior imagery analyst for 38 North at Johns Hopkins SAIS, chief analytics officer and co-founder of AllSource Analysis, Inc., and senior all-source analyst for DigitalGlobe’s Analysis Center.

Victor Cha is a senior adviser and the inaugural holder of the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Headline image credit: Copyright 2019 by Airbus.