Global Security Newswire

North Korea is making progress on construction of a new site designed to launch ICBMs, Agence France-Presse reported today (see GSN, June 8).

The Dongchang-ri site, on the country's northwest coast, appears now to have a launch structure and a hangar, according to the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo.

"Large girders have recently been installed and the two or three months of preparatory work at the launchpad have been completed," a South Korean government source told the newspaper.

"However, no radar has been set up and no missile has been brought to the launchpad," the source added. "A launch is not imminent."

North Korea this year has already conducted a number of missile tests and its second underground nuclear blast (see related GSN story, today). Reports have indicated that the state could launch another long-range missile and several medium-range weapons.

Judging by satellite photos, the launch structure appears to be approximately 165 feet in height -- nearly 60 feet taller than its counterpart at Musudan-ri, the North's other long-range missile site. At that height, it should be able to accommodate a 130-foot missile (Agence France-Presse/Spacewar.com, June 16).