January 24, 2023, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Dramatic and ongoing construction progress continues throughout the eastern and central sections of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, including new construction near the horizontal engine test stand... Dramatic and ongoing construction progress continues throughout the eastern and central sections of the Sohae…
December 15, 2022, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Latest commercial satellite images of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station show construction has entered a new phase, including the addition of a new horizontal engine test stand, further expanding the facility's future capabilities. .. This report was updated on December 16, 2022, to incorporate the details of the test…
October 26, 2022, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Significant progress in the construction of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station is observed in recent satellite imagery as part of the dramatic and ongoing modernization plan announced by Kim Jong-un earlier this year. .. This post was last updated on October 31, 2022. Dramatic and ongoing modernization plans at…
September 22, 2022, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Significant construction continues at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station including the expansion of fuel/oxidizer storage capacity and construction of what may be a large underground or support facility... Significant construction continues to take place within the Sohae Satellite Launching Station as part of…
September 6, 2022, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Indications of an unannounced engine test, along with significant construction activity, were recently observed at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station. .. Since our last report, significant construction activity has taken place within the Sohae Satellite Launching…
July 20, 2022, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
Four months after Kim Jong-un’s March 2022 inspection of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station and the public announcement of a modernization and development project, satellite imagery shows that the first stages of construction are now actively being pursued.
April 13, 2022, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha and Jennifer Jun—
While minor changes have taken place at Sohae Satellite Launching Station over the years, satellite imagery and other sources indicate that the roots of the recently announced modernization and expansion program likely date back to 2019. .. While minor changes have taken place at Sohae Satellite Launching Station over the years, satellite…
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.
March 19, 2019, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Victor Cha—
While recent activity at the Sohae Launch facility appears to have returned it to operational status after DPRK dismantlement measures earlier in the summer, there has been no activity of significance at the vertical engine test stand or launch pad since early March.
March 9, 2019, by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Victor Cha—
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.
