US faces potential nuclear threat from dictator Kim Jong Un; Report suggests North Korea’s secret missile base….
North Korea has a secret missile site extremely close to its northern border with China, which could pose a “potential nuclear threat” to large parts of East Asia and the United States, according to a new report by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released Wednesday. The base is only 27 kilometers (17 miles) from the China border and is large enough that its total footprint is larger than that of New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Who is behind the potential nuclear threat to the US?
The Sinpung-dong missile base is only 27 kilometers (approximately 17 miles) from the Chinese border. According to the Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report, it is stated that the base can store as many as nine nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and their mobile launchers.
What has North Korea built near the China border?
The report suggests that the site is one of an estimated 15 to 20 ballistic missile bases and warhead storage sites never officially acknowledged by North Korea. The findings are based on satellite imaging, interviews with North Korean refugees and officials, declassified documents, and open-source material, the report mentioned. “These missiles pose a potential nuclear threat to East Asia and the continental United States,” the report cautioned, CNN reported.
In the past couple of years, North Korea has ramped up its weapons program and the modernization of its military under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, developing new military equipment and testing intercontinental ballistic missiles that can hit almost anywhere in the United States.
All of these actions violate United Nations sanctions prohibiting access to weapons and key materials for North Korea. To add to the situation, North Korea has increased engagement with Russia after Moscow invaded Ukraine – including sending soldiers to the front lines to fight – which raises the worrisome possibility that Russia could reciprocate by eventually giving Pyongyang access to technology and lines of supply.
How large is the missile base?
The base is located in a narrow mountain valley, divided by a stream, and spans 22 square kilometers (about 5,436 acres)—making it larger than New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The report stated that this secret base is a key part of North Korea’s efforts to strengthen its nuclear program.
Story Highlights
- The Sinpung-dong missile base is only 27 kilometers (approximately 17 miles) from the Chinese border.
- Researchers found that construction of the base began in 2004.
- The base is located in a narrow mountain valley.
- It spans 22 square kilometers (about 5,436 acres)—making it larger than New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
What type of weapons might be stored there? When was the base constructed?
Based on satellite imagery, researchers found that construction of the base began in 2004. The base became operational in 2014, and since that time has been maintained and is still being developed, which could reflect current activity in North Korea’s missile program. It is not yet known what model of ballistic missile is stored at the base; however, CSIS researchers believe the ICBM is equipped with either North Korea’s nuclear-capable Hwasong-15 or Hwasong-18 ICBMS, or an alternative model that has not yet been revealed.
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