Pyongyang may use its islands located close to the country\u2019s Sohae rocket testing compound as missile launch sites, according to a Washington-based firm that provides geospatial and intelligence analysis.<\/b>
\nStrategical Sentinel made their assumptions after evaluating satellite images of the islands, some of which are man-made, according to the group. The Google Earth images from December 2016 show \u201cpaved, rectangular lots\u201d and wide roads \u2013 installations that could host ballistic missiles and transporter erector launchers, according to the firm\u2019s analysis, published \u00a0in Diplomat magazine.
Although the photographs don\u2019 t provide evidence of supportive infrastructure necessary for missile deployment, they could have been finished by now, since those pictures were taken in December 2016, the report says.
\u201cSome of the islands look like offensive asset deployment sites \u2014 that is, ballistic missile launch pads\u201d the Sentinel\u2019s research says, although adding that it would be not a \u201cwise choice.\u201d
Instead, the images analyzed suggest that \u201canti-air missile sites would be a strategically wiser choice.\u201d
Despite the report claiming that the purpose of the islands and their facilities remain uncertain, it underscores that Sohae \u201chas hosted many critical missile tests, including the 2012 and 2016 Kwangmy\u014fngs\u014fng satellite launches.\u201d
In total, \u201cNorth Korea has built at least five military facilities on islands near Sohae.\u201d
The islands could also be fake to mislead North Korea\u2019s adversaries, the report alleges. However, the authors don\u2019 t exclude that the facilities could serve agricultural or other civilian purposes, as part of a land reclamation project.
The report comes amidst rising tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, prompting the Chinese government to call for the \u201crelevant parties to remain calm and stop irritating each other.\u201d North Korea has allegedly carried out three missile tests over past two months, all described as failed by Washington.
The US has recently beefed up its activities in the region, with the US supersonic B-1 Lancer bombers staging joint drills with South Korea and Japan on Monday.
This followed the sides exchanging threats, with US Vice President Mike Pence warning Pyongyang of an \u201coverwhelming and effective American response\u201d to \u201cany use of conventional or nuclear weapons.\u201d In response, North Korea pledged to reduce the US to ashes in a \u201csuper-mighty pre-emptive strike.\u201d<\/p>\n