"North West Sea Satellite Launch Site Shows No Signs of Imminent Reconnaissance Satellite Launch"

US Specialized Media '38 North' Report
Possibility of Russia's Technical Cooperation and Reconnaissance Satellite Preparation
But No Activity Observed Until the 6th, Analysis Says

It is reported that North Korea is preparing to launch a reconnaissance satellite with Russia's assistance, but analysis suggests that there are no signs yet indicating an imminent launch at the West Sea Satellite Launch Site in Dongchang-ri, Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province.

West Sea Satellite Launching Station in Dongchang-ri, Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province, North Korea Yonhap News

On the 8th (local time), 38 North, a U.S.-based North Korea specialist media outlet, stated, "Although modernization efforts are underway throughout the facility, typical signs indicating an imminent launch have not been observed in recent weeks."

It added, "Furthermore, North Korea has not notified relevant authorities such as the International Maritime Organization of an impending launch. This is consistent with the practices they have followed in several recent satellite launches."

The media also analyzed commercial satellite imagery and found that there was no "observable activity" at the coastal launch pad within the West Sea Satellite Launch Site, where the last three launch attempts took place, as of June 6. It further noted, "Before and after the failed (reconnaissance) satellite launch attempt in May, support vehicles were present under camouflaged structures near the launch pad, but since late June, no vehicles have been parked under the camouflage, and the June 6 image suggests that the camouflage has been removed."

Earlier, on the 29th of last month, the National Intelligence Service reported at the National Assembly Intelligence Committee’s audit that "North Korea appears to be preparing to relaunch the reconnaissance satellite that failed in May through the purchase of advanced components and technical cooperation with Russia."

Meanwhile, on the same day, 38 North posted a separate analysis on its website suggesting that the recent construction work on structures at the shipbuilding facility in Nampo Port, a major North Korean export-import port at the mouth of the Taedong River, may be part of a large-scale facility upgrade for naval modernization.