After Expelling South Koreans... Commuter Buses Disappear from Kaesong Industrial Complex, Large White Object Appears

Reports have emerged that large objects have appeared on land owned by South Korean companies located in the Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea, and buses have disappeared from the garage, indicating ongoing unauthorized use of the Kaesong Industrial Complex by North Korean authorities.

A white object was captured in satellite images in an open space at the center of the Kaesong Industrial Complex. VOA

On the 20th, Voice of America (VOA) reported that a rectangular white object was captured in satellite images taken on the 18th by the U.S. commercial satellite "Planet Labs" in a factory area at the center of the Kaesong Industrial Complex. The object measures 30 meters wide and 15 meters long and has been in the same location since the 5th. A similar object was also found in an open area in the northern part of the Kaesong Industrial Complex. This object has been observed since the 9th.

Although the low resolution of the satellite images makes it difficult to precisely identify the type of object, considering its size, VOA speculated that it could be a large pile of materials or a temporary structure that could be built in a short time. They added, "Regardless of the type of object, one thing is clear: North Korea is conducting some form of activity in the Kaesong Industrial Complex."

Changes have also been confirmed in the bus garage within the Kaesong Industrial Complex. Satellite images from the 18th show that the western area of the garage has been cleared to bare ground, which suggests that all the buses previously parked there have been removed, according to the media. When the Kaesong Industrial Complex was operating normally, the South Korean side provided about 290 Hyundai Motor Company Aero City buses to facilitate the commuting of North Korean workers. Of these, about 260 buses, excluding approximately 30, remained in the garage after the complex was shut down, but their number has gradually decreased. It is known that North Korea has been using these buses for other unauthorized purposes since the suspension of the complex's operations.

In addition, many changes have been detected in the Kaesong Industrial Complex over the past year. New buildings have been constructed on some sites within the complex, and buses, vans, and trucks have been spotted on roads and open areas. Movements such as the disappearance or appearance of materials in some factories have also been confirmed through satellite images.

Based on these circumstances, VOA reported that there are speculations that North Korea may be either operating the Kaesong Industrial Complex without authorization or preparing for its full-scale reopening.