US monitor unveils undeclared NK missile base likely housing nuclear-capable ICBMs

This photo provided April 14, 2023, by the North Korean government, shows what it says is the test-launch of Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday, April 13, 2023 at an undisclosed location, North Korea. UPI-Yonhap

WASHINGTON — North Korea has an undeclared ballistic missile operating base near its border with China, which likely possesses intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the continental United States, a U.S. monitor confirmed Wednesday.

Beyond Parallel, a project of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, unveiled the Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base in North Pyongan Province, about 25 kilometers from the border with China, as it released its analysis of satellite imagery taken July 11.

It marks the first open-source study confirming the base, according to the monitor.

"Preliminary analysis suggests that the base likely houses a brigade-sized unit equipped with a total of six to nine nuclear capable Hwasong-15 or -18 ICBMs, or an as yet unknown ICBM, and their transporter-erector-launchers (TEL) or mobile-erector-launchers (MEL)," it said in a report posted on its website.

"These missiles pose a potential nuclear threat to East Asia and the continental United States," it added.

Hwasong-15 and 18 ICBMs are known to be liquid-fuel and solid-propellant ones, respectively, which put the U.S. mainland in range.

Construction of the base began around 2004 and was generally complete and operational by 2014, it said, noting the possibility that ongoing improvements since 2014 are related to a combination of ongoing intermediate-range ballistic missile and ICBM developments, basing requirements and organizational developments.

Current assessments show that during times of crisis or war, launchers and missiles in the base will exit the base, meet special warhead storage and transportation units, and conduct launch operations from dispersed pre-surveyed sites, the monitor noted.

"The Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base and the other missile bases within North Korea's strategic ballistic missile belt ... represent the primary components of what is presumed to be North Korea's evolving ballistic missile strategy, and its expanding strategic-level nuclear deterrence and strike capabilities," it said.

The base is one of North Korea's approximately 15 to 20 ballistic missile bases, maintenance, support, missile storage, and warhead storage facilities that the reclusive regime has never declared, according to it.

"The Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base is not known to have been the subject of any denuclearization negotiations previously conducted between the United States and North Korea," it said.