Kim Jong-un’s ‘aggressive’ bid to build his first ballistic missile submarine has been revealed in a satellite images showing a new ‘pressure hull’ at a key military base.
Overhead pictures, taken just weeks ago, show construction work and increased activity at North Korea’s Sinpo South naval shipyard.
The images could be an indication that Pyongyang is pursuing an ‘aggressive schedule’ to build its first operational ballistic missile submarine, according to the respected Washington-based 38 North institute, which monitors the secretive state.
Kim Jong-un’s ‘aggressive’ bid to build his first ballistic missile submarine has been revealed in a satellite images showing a new ‘pressure hull’ at a key military base. This image from November 5 shows a SINPO-class submarine and submersible test stand barge at the Sinpo South naval shipyard
Overhead pictures, taken just weeks ago, show construction work and increased activity at North Korea’s Sinpo South naval shipyard. The images above shows one of North Korea’s ROMEO-class submarines being overhauled at a dry-dock
Kim Jong-un (pictured) has been working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the United States
‘The presence of what appear to be sections of a submarine’s pressure hull in the yards suggests construction of a new submarine, possibly the SINPO-C ballistic missile submarine – the follow-on to the current SINPO-class experimental ballistic missile submarine,’ 38 North said of the November 5 pictures.
Its report said that throughout 2017 there had been continued movement of parts and components into and out of two parts yards adjacent to the constructions halls in the center of the shipyard.
It said the images showed two large circular objects that could be sections of a submarine’s pressure hull.
It said these appeared larger than those for North Korea’s ROMEO-class attack submarine.
Images of a test stand indicated continued testing of a mechanism for ejection launch of missiles from a submarine.
38 NOrth said the images showed two large circular objects that could be sections of a submarine’s pressure hull. It said these appeared larger than those for North Korea’s ROMEO-class attack submarine
The images could be an indication that Pyongyang is pursuing an ‘aggressive schedule’ to build its first operational ballistic missile submarine, according to the respected Washington-based 38 North institute. This November 5 image shows modernisation work at the port of Nopyong-ni ongoing
There are fears that work to create new piers (pictured) could be proof of Kim Jong-un’s plans to build a new ballistic missile submarine
However, the report said no activity could be seen suggesting preparations for a new test of a submarine-launched missile.
North Korea has been working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the United States, sparking a major international crisis in which U.S. President Donald Trump has said that all options are under consideration, including military ones.
North Korea is also thought to be working on a solid-fuel missile for submarine launches.
Last month, The Diplomat magazine quoted a U.S. government source as saying U.S. military intelligence had detected a new diesel-electric submarine under construction at Sinpo and dubbed it the Sinpo-C.
A close-up image shows a missile test stand. North Korea has enraged the international community with its missile and nuclear tests
North Korea is also thought to be working on a solid-fuel missile for submarine launches. This images shows the building of a new construction hall
It said the submarine was likely a larger successor to North Korea’s single experimental ballistic missile submarine.
North Korea has conducted dozens of missile tests this year and its largest and biggest nuclear test on September 3. The past two months have seen a relative lull and it has not tested a missile since firing one over Japan on September 15.
Another article in The Diplomat last month quoted a U.S. government source as saying that North Korea had tested a new solid fuel engine sometime between October 15 and October 21. U.S. intelligence officials have declined to comment on this.