North Korea resumes missile site construction: US institute
US think tank publishes satellite images it says indicate Pyongyang is working to develop its nuclear missile launch site
North Korea has resumed construction work on a missile launch site on its northeast coast after a months-long hiatus, part of a renewed push for its nuclear and missile programmes, according to a US think-tank.
Recent satellite imagery shows work has resumed on new facilities at the North’s Tonghae launch site, the US-Korea Institute of Johns Hopkins University posted on its 38 North website.
The facilities appear designed to test future generations of larger, more capable rockets, it said.
The restart of work at Tonghgae indicates that North Korea is still committed to maintaining two launch sites along with the Sohae site on the west coast.
But the institute said there were no signs of an imminent long-range rocket test at either site.
The US-Korea Institute said in October that North Korea has undertaken major construction work at Sohae, possibly to cater to larger and more mobile weapons.
The Sohae site was used for the launch in December of the North’s Unha-3 carrier, which successfully placed a satellite in orbit.