North Korea has secret base with intermediate-range missiles capable of hitting Japan’s Okinawa: US study
- The Sangnam-ni missile operating base is one of an estimated 20 undeclared missile bases in North Korea
The Sangnam-ni missile operating base, 250km north of the border with South Korea, is one of an estimated 20 undeclared missile bases in North Korea, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies said in a report.
The deployment of the Hwasong-10, with a range of more than 3,000km, at Sangnam-ni is “a component of North Korea’s presumed offensive ballistic missile strategy that provides a strategic-level first strike capability against targets located throughout East Asia as far as US forces in Okinawa and Guam”, the report said.
However, the base does not appear to be part of denuclearisation negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, according to the report, which will continue at a meeting of US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam later this month.
The CSIS warned any agreement leading to the dismantling of only the test site in Tongchang-ri “would obscure the extant military threat to US forces and South Korea from this and other undeclared ballistic missile bases”.
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At the same time, Kim is said to be ready to accept the dismantling and inspection of a high-profile nuclear plant, a South Korean presidential adviser said, suggesting a possible point of compromise in the talks with Trump.
Moon Chung-in, a special adviser for foreign affairs and national security, said on Friday the destruction of the Yongbyon nuclear complex was an achievable goal during the planned February 27-28 summit. Moon said it was his “understanding” that South Korean President Moon Jae-in got Kim’s personal assurance on that when they met in Pyongyang in September.
“Kim Jong-un said ‘Yes’ and will accept verification,” Moon Chung-in said in Seoul on Friday. “I hope President Trump can nail it down that verification should be part of the permanent dismantling of nuclear facilities in Yongbyon.”
Additional reporting by Bloomberg
