Seoul: A U.S. monitor has confirmed the existence of an undeclared ballistic missile operating base near North Korea's border with China, which is likely equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of reaching the continental United States.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Beyond Parallel, a project of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, revealed the Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base in North Pyongan Province, approximately 25 kilometers from the Chinese border. This revelation follows their analysis of satellite imagery dated July 11, marking the first open-source study to confirm the base's existence.
The report from Beyond Parallel indicates that the base likely houses a brigade-sized unit equipped with six to nine nuclear-capable Hwasong-15 or -18 ICBMs, or possibly an unknown model of ICBM, alongside their transporter-erector-launchers (TEL) or mobile-erector-launchers (MEL). These missiles present a potential nuclear threat to both East Asia and the mainland United States, according to the report.
Hwasong-15 and 18 ICBMs are identified as liquid-fuel and solid-propellant missiles, respectively, which have the range to strike the U.S. mainland. The construction of the Sinpung-dong base began around 2004 and reached operational status by 2014. The report suggests that improvements made since 2014 could be linked to developments in intermediate-range ballistic missiles and ICBMs, as well as basing and organizational requirements.
Current assessments by the monitor indicate that in times of crisis or war, the base's launchers and missiles would leave the facility to meet special warhead storage and transportation units, proceeding to conduct launch operations from pre-surveyed, dispersed sites.
The monitor also noted that the Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base, together with other bases within North Korea's strategic ballistic missile belt, forms a significant component of the country's evolving ballistic missile strategy and expanding strategic-level nuclear deterrence and strike capabilities. The base is one of North Korea's estimated 15 to 20 undeclared ballistic missile bases, including maintenance, support, missile storage, and warhead storage facilities.
Yonhap News Agency further reported that the Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base has not been a subject of previous denuclearization negotiations between the United States and North Korea.