WASHINGTON • Satellite images taken this month of a North Korean naval shipyard indicate that Pyongyang is pursuing an “aggressive schedule” to build its first operational ballistic missile submarine, a US institute has reported..
WASHINGTON • Satellite images taken this month of a North Korean naval shipyard indicate that Pyongyang is pursuing an “aggressive schedule” to build its first operational ballistic missile submarine, a US institute has reported.
Washington-based 38 North, a North Korea monitoring project, cited images taken on Nov 5 showing activity at North Korea’s Sinpo South Shipyard.
“The presence of what appear to be sections of a submarine’s pressure hull in the yards suggests construction of a new submarine, possibly the Sinpo-C ballistic missile submarine – the follow-on to the current Sinpo-class experimental ballistic missile submarine,” 38 North said in a report on Thursday.
The report said that throughout this year, there had been continued movement of parts and components into and out of two parts yards adjacent to the construction halls in the centre of the shipyard.
It said the Nov 5 images showed two large circular objects that could be sections of a submarine’s pressure hull. It said these appeared larger than those for North Korea’s Romeo-class attack submarine.
Images of a test stand indicated continued testing of a mechanism for ejection launch of missiles from a submarine. However, the report said no activity could be seen suggesting preparations for a new test of a submarine-launched missile.
North Korea has been working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the United States, sparking a major international crisis in which US President Donald Trump has said all options are under consideration, including military ones.
