Shin Jun-shik
Suspected underground missile launchers in Samjiyon County, Ryanggang Province
N. Korea is reportedly remodeling suspected underground missile launch facilities in Samjiyon County, Ryanggang Province. According to sources, this is done in order to replace ‘Baekdusan-1’ missiles with ‘Hwasong-14’, the new ICBM’s.
N. Korea is reportedly remodeling suspected underground missile launchers in Samjiyon County, Ryanggang Province, according to local sources. The First Military Engineering Bureau (fmr. First Brigade of Military Engineering Bureau) which is now moved under Guard Bureau, is in charge of the work, RFA reported quoting sources.
Sources in Ryanggang Province said on Sept. 4, “Since last April, the First Military Engineering Bureau started remodeling works for underground missile base located between Samjiyon Village and Potae Worker’s District. Rebar’s and cements are brought in at night disguised as construction materials for Samjiyon District.”
Sources said, “There is an underground missile base built between 1999 and 2001, which is located between Samjiyon Village and Potae Worker’s District. Baekdusan-1’ missiles were deployed there but are recently being replaced with ‘Hwasong-14’”
They said, “Vehicles which bring the base construction materials for remodeling are coming out loaded with disassembled parts of ‘Baekdusan 1’ missiles. These facts were leaked to outsiders by soldiers at the base who sneaked out to Potae Worker’s District to get liquors.”
Another source in Ryanggang Province said, “The base has ‘Baekdusan 1’ and old Soviet SAM’s. Inside Heunggyesoo Worker’s Unit in Potae Farm, there is also a SAM base built long ago.”
There is an underground missile base with ‘Baekdusan 1’ (missiles) in Sobaek Plateau in Samjiyon County. The place is surrounded by hundreds of 37mm anti-aircraft guns. The reason why Samjiyon County hosts so many missile bases is that the place is on pumice rock which makes the construction of tunnels easier, according to the source.
"Underground missile bases in Samjiyon County are located 2,000 meters above sea level. Missiles can have longer range when launched at a location 2000 meters above sea level, compared with lower altitude locations such as Wonsan and Gusong," the source said.
"We came across information that they are replacing ‘Baekdusan 1’ with ‘Hwasong-14’ this year. Furthermore, old Soviet SAMS’s are also replaced with new interceptor missiles," he said.
