ICBM Launch Structure Spotted at North Sunan Airport

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] It has been revealed that North Korea has newly installed a concrete structure capable of launching a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This structure serves as a support base when firing missiles from a Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL).

On the 15th, the Voice of America (VOA) reported that satellite photos taken by the satellite imagery service 'Planet Labs' on the 12th captured a new concrete foundation installed between the runway and taxiway north of Sunan Airport.

The construction of the concrete foundation at Sunan Airfield is estimated to have taken place between the 8th and 9th, and there is a possibility that concrete was laid over a wider area than the foundation confirmed in the photos from the 12th. The concrete foundations are known to have a width of 50 meters and lengths of approximately 220 meters and 100 meters, respectively.

North Korea conducted test launches to assess the performance of the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM, Hwasong-17) at Sunan Airfield on the 27th of last month and the 5th of this month. In the past, North Korea built concrete pads where TELs could be positioned, then placed the TELs on top to launch missiles.

The Hwasong-14, an ICBM-class missile launched in July 2017 in the Guseong area of North Pyongan Province, was fired from an 8-axle TEL on a concrete foundation, and the 9-axle TEL was similarly positioned on the same type of facility during the Hwasong-15 launch in November of the same year.

The construction of concrete foundations is analyzed to prevent damage to the launch platform or deviation of the missile trajectory when launching missiles from locations with weak ground conditions.