North Korea has built a secret base for launching intercontinental missiles. Experts identified the base using satellite images.
This is reported by the press service of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
As noted in the CSIS report, Hejung Base is s located in Hwapyong-gun (화평군, Hwapyong County), Chagang-do (자강도, Chagang Province), 280-kilometers northeast of Pyongyang, 338-kilometers north of the demilitarized zone, 420-kilometers northeast of Seoul and 1,285-kilometers northwest of Tokyo. Notably, the base is also located 25-kilometers from the border with China and 15-kilometers northwest of the older Yongjo-ni (영저리) missile operating base.
Experts suggest that the base is being built for almost 20 years. Although construction began long time ago, the Hoejung-ni missile operating base represents one of the latest Strategic Forces bases to be completed.
This long construction timeline suggests a considerable level of prior development planning that is rarely appreciated and was likely linked to projected ICBM developments and basing needs.
According to the data, the base is one of approximately 20 ballistic missile operating bases that have never been declared by North Korea. Additionally, it does not appear to have been the subject of any denuclearization negotiations previously conducted between the United States and North Korea.
Should operational ICBMs not become available in the near term, it is likely that intermediate range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) will be deployed. A Hwasong-12 IRBM was launched from Chagang Province on January 30, 2022.
As “Apostrophe”reported earlier, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea tested a hypersonic missile.