On June 24, Voice of America (VOA) reported that large-scale excavation was observed at North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station. It was suggested that this could be preparation for the launch of a reconnaissance satellite, as North Korea had announced.
VOA analyzed satellite images taken by private satellite service company Planet Labs on June 19 and stated, “There are clear signs of large-scale excavation work on the outer part of the southern ground adjacent to the main launch site of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station.” VOA emphasized, “Lushed with trees, the place has turned into a vacant lot revealing its dirt floor due to excavation work. The area is approximately 82 feet wide and 82-98 feet long.”
The excavation work is estimated to have started around June 5. It has progressed rapidly since then, resulting in its current state from June 11.
This excavation is next to the main processing building, where rocket engines are assembled. On the west end of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station’s main launch site is a gantry tower (launch pad). On the east side, there is a main processing building where rocket engines are assembled and a building for vertically erecting them. Some changes were also observed in the main processing building. The white building started to appear green on June 16. The white construction material covering the building seems to have been dismantled, revealing its interior.
The reason for North Korea conducting new work at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station’s main launch site is unclear. However, VOA explained that it is unusual for such significant changes to suddenly occur at the main launch site, which had shown no movement for about a year.
Previously, on May 27, North Korea launched a rocket carrying the reconnaissance satellite Malligyong 1-1 from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, but it exploded shortly after launch and failed. North Korea then announced it would “consider the issues” and suggested additional launches. The changes captured this time could be part of the process.
However, since 2023, North Korea has been using a new launch site about 1.86 miles away from here every time it launches a reconnaissance satellite. The main launch site was used to launch the Kwangmyongsong-3 long-range rocket in April and December 2012 and the Kwangmyongsong-4 in February 2016.
The UN Security Council prohibits North Korea from launching projectiles using ballistic missile technology. However, North Korea is violating the Security Council resolutions by launching satellite missiles.
During a regular briefing held today, Unification Ministry spokesperson Koo Byung Sam touched base on the excavation work at the Tongchang-ri launch site by stating, “The government is closely tracking and monitoring trends in North Korea’s major facilities and regions in close cooperation with the U.S.” He added, “We will not pre-judge the possibility of so-called military reconnaissance satellite launches in the future, and we will prepare for all possibilities through close cooperation with related agencies.”