August 17, 2023, by Theodore Postol—
Russia's multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missile…
October 12, 2022, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Jennifer Jun—
North Korea’s September 25 test launch of a ballistic missile from the Taechon Reservoir was a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), not a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) as commonly reported. The missile used for this test appears to be a modified version of the KN-23 SRBM. The original single-stage, solid propellant KN-23 was first tested in May 2019.
June 29, 2022, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Recent satellite image clearly details the current observable status of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility, where North Korea is assessed to have finished all preparations for conducting a nuclear test... A high-resolution satellite image acquired on June 24, 2022, clearly details the current observable status…
March 25, 2021, by Victor Cha—
“It’s business as usual” as North Korea appears to be resuming its cycle of provocations, using weapons demonstrations to build leverage and as a pressure tactic to force unilateral concessions from the United States for a return to the negotiating table.
September 23, 2020, by Victor Cha—
Over the course of 30 elections since 1956, Beyond Parallel measured the period of time before or after an election in which a North Korean provocation happens and found the provocation window has grown more narrow over time. That is, North Korean missile/nuclear tests and other major kinetic provocations have clustered increasingly closer to U.S. elections.
December 11, 2019, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Victor Cha—
On December 7, North Korea conducted what it described as a “…very important test at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground.” Satellite imagery in the days leading up to and after the test clearly shows that this was a rocket engine test at the vertical engine test stand at Sohae. This test was most probably of a liquid-fuel rocket engine as only liquid-fuel rocket engines have previously been tested here, while large solid rocket motors have been tested at the Magunpo Solid Rocket Motor Test Facility on the east coast and elsewhere. Whether the liquid-fuel rocket engine was an existing model or a new one is unknown.
December 4, 2019, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Victor Cha—
There is no evidence that the “newly built submarine” inspected by Kim Jong-un on July 23, 2019 has been launched. While many media sources have described this new submarine as an imminent threat, it is more accurate to describe it as an emerging threat. The large canopy constructed during late-August and early-September that conceals much of the submarine dock precludes confirmation that the existing SINPO-class experimental ballistic missile submarine (SSBA) is present.
October 9, 2019, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Dana Kim—
The October 2, 2019 Pukguksong-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test launch has raised concerns over the forthcoming launch of North Korea’s first true ballistic missile submarine (SSB) as described in the Beyond Parallel Snapshot, which was published the same day.
October 2, 2019, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Dana Kim—
Around 7:11 am on October 2 (KST), North Korea launched what may have been a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from waters northeast of the Wonsan, Kangwon Province area into the sea between Korea and Japan. The last Beyond Parallel report on the Sinpo South Shipyard indicated the possibility of ongoing preparations for a launch.
August 28, 2019, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Victor Cha—
New Beyond Parallel imagery (August 26, 2019) of Sinpo South Shipyard suggests circumstantial evidence of the construction of a new ballistic missile submarine and preliminary evidence indicates possible preparations for a test... New Beyond Parallel imagery (August 26, 2019) of Sinpo South Shipyard suggests circumstantial evidence of…
