Most Popular
-
1
Slew of top K-pop stars ready to return from military
-
2
S. Korea, US clinch 2026-30 defense cost-sharing deal in pre-election push
-
3
N. Korean leader's sister derides Seoul's Hyunmoo-5 missile as 'useless'
-
4
Controversial cult leader’s sentence reduced to 17 years
-
5
Military aircraft evacuating S. Koreans in Lebanon returns home
-
6
Concerns raised over chronic labor shortage at state-run center for digital sex crime victims
-
7
BTS-themed moon jar to be unveiled on Hangeul Day
-
8
Samsung, Hyundai chiefs to accompany Yoon on Singapore trip
-
9
1,430 minors investigated for drug offenses from 2018 to 2023: police
-
10
[Robert Fouser] Why the US election looks so close
![[Robert Fouser] Why the US election looks so close](//res.heraldm.com/phpwas/restmb_idxmake.php?idx=644&simg=/content/image/2024/10/03/20241003050201_0.jpg&u=)
![[Robert Fouser] Why the US election looks so close](http://res.heraldm.com/phpwas/restmb_idxmake.php?idx=644&simg=/content/image/2024/10/03/20241003050201_0.jpg&u=)
The latest available commercial satellite imagery shows nothing that suggests North Korea has begun preparations for a long-range rocket launch from its recently upgraded launch site despite media reports indicating otherwise, a U.S. research institute said Wednesday.
Speculation has grown that the North could launch a long-range rocket from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station around October to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party after a recent upgrade enabled the station to handle bigger rockets.
But the website 38 North, which regularly scrutinizes commercial satellite imagery of key points of interests in the North, such as its rocket site and nuclear complex, stressed in a report that there is nothing new that suggests the North is preparing for a launch.
"An SLV (satellite launch vehicle) is certainly not on the pad and commercial satellites have yet to detect any preparations for a launch. That may change when we get the next batch of imagery but for now that's the situation," the report said.
A concealing "cover" that media reports said has been installed at the launch site appears to be either an environmental cover aimed at protecting a launch vehicle from humidity and heat or a shelter concealing the rail spur that receives trains carrying missile containers, which is not new, 38 North said.
"The bottom line is that it is true that North Korea appears to be wrapping up a number of construction projects at the Sohae facility ... all are intended to make it harder for satellites to observe and analyze what is going on," the report said.
"But these activities have been ongoing for some time and in no way indicate whether a launch is imminent or will take place in October," it said.
North Korea is believed to have developed advanced ballistic missile technologies through a series of test launches, including a 2012 launch that succeeded in putting a satellite into orbit. That test is considered the most successful so far.
That test sparked fears that the North has moved closer to ultimately developing nuclear-tipped missiles that could potentially reach the mainland U.S. The country has so far conducted three underground nuclear tests: in 2006, 2009 and 2013. (Yonhap)
Speculation has grown that the North could launch a long-range rocket from the Sohae Satellite Launching Station around October to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party after a recent upgrade enabled the station to handle bigger rockets.
But the website 38 North, which regularly scrutinizes commercial satellite imagery of key points of interests in the North, such as its rocket site and nuclear complex, stressed in a report that there is nothing new that suggests the North is preparing for a launch.
"An SLV (satellite launch vehicle) is certainly not on the pad and commercial satellites have yet to detect any preparations for a launch. That may change when we get the next batch of imagery but for now that's the situation," the report said.
A concealing "cover" that media reports said has been installed at the launch site appears to be either an environmental cover aimed at protecting a launch vehicle from humidity and heat or a shelter concealing the rail spur that receives trains carrying missile containers, which is not new, 38 North said.
"The bottom line is that it is true that North Korea appears to be wrapping up a number of construction projects at the Sohae facility ... all are intended to make it harder for satellites to observe and analyze what is going on," the report said.
"But these activities have been ongoing for some time and in no way indicate whether a launch is imminent or will take place in October," it said.
North Korea is believed to have developed advanced ballistic missile technologies through a series of test launches, including a 2012 launch that succeeded in putting a satellite into orbit. That test is considered the most successful so far.
That test sparked fears that the North has moved closer to ultimately developing nuclear-tipped missiles that could potentially reach the mainland U.S. The country has so far conducted three underground nuclear tests: in 2006, 2009 and 2013. (Yonhap)
