Located approximately 27 kilometers from the China-North Korean border, the Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base is an undeclared ballistic missile operating base in North Pyongan Province. The base is one of North Korea’s approximately 15-20 ballistic missile bases, maintenance, support, missile storage, and warhead storage facilities which North Korea has never declared. This is the first in-depth open-source study confirming the base. Preliminary analysis suggests that the base likely houses a brigade-sized unit equipped with a total of 6-9 nuclear capable Hwasong-15 or -18 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), or an as yet unknown ICBM, and their transporter-erector-launchers (TEL) or mobile-erector-launchers (MEL). These missiles pose a potential nuclear threat to East Asia and the continental United States. Current assessments are that during times of crisis or war, these launchers and missiles will exit the base, meet special warhead storage/transportation units, and conduct launch operations from dispersed pre-surveyed sites. The Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base and the other missile bases within North Korea’s strategic ballistic missile belt (including other undeclared bases like the Hoejung-ni, Sangnam-ni and Yongnim Missile Operating Bases) represent the primary components of what is presumed to be North Korea’s evolving ballistic missile strategy, and its expanding strategic-level nuclear deterrence and strike capabilities. The Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base is not known to have been the subject of any denuclearization negotiations previously conducted between the United States and North Korea.
Undeclared North Korea: Sinpung-dong Missile Operating Base – Beyond Parallel
