The South Korean report was backed up by analysis from two American organizations, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and 38 North. CSIS…
The South Korean report was backed up by analysis from two American organizations, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and 38 North.
CSIS looked at satellite images of the facility, also known as Tongchang-ri, taken on March 2 and concluded North Korea is “pursuing a rapid rebuilding of the long-range rocket site at Sohae.”
The construction and maintenance in progress at the site is the first significant activity since August 2018, suggesting a “deliberate and purposeful” effort to bring it back online.
“This renewed activity, taken just two days after the inconclusive Hanoi summit between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un, may indicate North Korean plans to demonstrate resolve in the face of U. S. rejection of North Korea’s demands at the summit to lift five UN Security Council sanctions enacted in 2016-2017,” CSIS speculated.
The “Beyond Parallel” project at CSIS previously issued a string of reports describing missile launch facilities well-known to South Korean and U. S. intelligence but not formally declared by North Korea. The Beyond Parallel project is headed up by Victor Cha, who was once a candidate to become U. S. ambassador to South Korea but was withdrawn from consideration after disagreeing with the Trump administration’s North Korea policy.
38 North’s analysis of the Sohae construction noted that efforts to rebuild the missile launch pad and engine test stand began sometime between February 2 and March 2, so the work might have started before the Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi.
