North Korea
Kumcheon Scud Missile Base
About
North Korea reportedly began construction of the Kumcheon missile base in 1992 or 1993, and construction of the base was reportedly nearing completion in March 2001. According to U.S. and South Korean military authorities, the base has an underground launch facility and tunnels for transporting the missiles. According to Jaganath Sankaran, Kumcheon has been used to deploy Hwasong-5, Hwasong-6, and Hwasong-9 ballistic missiles.
Glossary
- Deployment
- The positioning of military forces – conventional and/or nuclear – in conjunction with military planning.
- Ballistic missile
- A delivery vehicle powered by a liquid or solid fueled rocket that primarily travels in a ballistic (free-fall) trajectory. The flight of a ballistic missile includes three phases: 1) boost phase, where the rocket generates thrust to launch the missile into flight; 2) midcourse phase, where the missile coasts in an arc under the influence of gravity; and 3) terminal phase, in which the missile descends towards its target. Ballistic missiles can be characterized by three key parameters - range, payload, and Circular Error Probable (CEP), or targeting precision. Ballistic missiles are primarily intended for use against ground targets.
Sources
[1] Kang Ho Shik, “Puk Missile Chŭngga Chŏllyŏk Chŏnjinbaech’i Anp’akk,” Kyunghyang Shinmun, 5 March 2001, p. 3, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
[2] Kim Min Sŏk, “Puk Scud Missiler Kiji Chŭngsŏl,” Joongang Ilbo, 5 March 2001, p. 2, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
[3] Kang Ho Shik, “Puk Scud Missile Kiji Chŭngsŏl,” Kyunghyang Shinmun, 5 March 2001, p. 1, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
[4] Chu Yong Chung, “Sajŏng 500km Scud C Missile 200 Ki,” Chosun Ilbo, 29 September 1999, p. 1, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
[5] Kim Chong Hun, “99 Kukbangbaeksŏ Palp’yo – Pukpyŏngnyŏk Manmyŏng Nŭl’ŏ 117 Manmyŏng,” Kyunghyang Shinmun, 13 October 1999, p. 3, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
[6] Kim Yŏng Bŏn, “Puk Hwahangmugi 5,000t Poyu,” Munhwa Ilbo, 13 October 1999, p. 30, in KINDS, www.kinds.or.kr.
[7] “Buk, Hwangbuk Tŏ’gol Tŭng 6 Kot Scud Missile Kiji Kongsa,” Yonhap News Agency, 26 October 1999, www.yonhapnews.co.kr.
[8] Kim Min Sŏk, “Puk Missile Kiji Kyesok Chŭngsŏl,” Joongang Ilbo, 5 March 2001, www.joins.com.
[9] Jaganath Sankaran, “Missile Defenses and Strategic Stability in Asia: Evidence From Simulations,” Journal of East Asian Studies, Vol. 20, No. 3 (2020): 485–508.