North Korean media outlets capture the movement of barges at the Sinpo Shipyard one after another

North Korean media outlets capture the movement of barges at the Sinpo Shipyard one after another

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The movement of the Sinpo Shipyard in South Hamgyeong Province, a key facility for the development of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in North Korea, is inconvenient. On the 6th (hereinafter referred to as local time), a North Korean research institute in the US captured the movement of a barge used for the SLBM test launch. It has been four days since the heads of the security offices of Korea, the United States, and Japan gathered in the United States on the 2nd to condemn North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missiles.

SLBM test launch or new submarine imminent?

On the 6th (local time), beyond the division of CSIS, which conveyed the movement of barges at Sinpo Shipyard, Hang-Gyeongnam-do, North Korea (Beyond Parallel)'

On the 6th (local time), beyond the division of CSIS, which conveyed the movement of barges at Sinpo Shipyard, Hang-Gyeongnam-do, North Korea (Beyond Parallel)’

The US Institute for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)’s Beyond Parallel revealed that the barge at the Sinpo Shipyard left the berth and moved to the sub-election in front of the main assembly building based on satellite photographs. This barge was used for test launch of North Korea’s SLBM, the North Korean North Korean missile. CSIS has linked this trend to the possibility of preparation for the scheduled SLBM test launch, maintenance and repair of barges, or the installation of new equipment.

The fact that the missile launcher (canister) was not carried on the barge was not a sign that the SLBM test launch was imminent.

Jeffrey Lewis, a North Korean nuclear and missile expert, head of the Nonproliferation Research Center at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies, gave the same fact to the Arms Control Wonk, putting weight on the possibility of checking for new equipment upgrades. “The possibility for the SLBM test launch is small,” Lewis said.

’38 North’ also analyzed the movement of the barge, saying, “The purpose is unclear,” and “the barge was not visible from the outside except during the test launch.” However, the media explained, “It may be to make room for a new SLBM submarine that is currently being built, or to repair a barge.”

A ship can be seen under the North Star-3 type that penetrates the water and rises to the sky. The ship was intended to tow a barge, military authorities analyzed. [사진 조선중앙통신ㆍ연합뉴스]

A ship can be seen under the North Star-3 type that penetrates the water and rises to the sky. The ship was intended to tow a barge, military authorities analyzed. [사진 조선중앙통신ㆍ연합뉴스]

Previously, the 38 North evaluated that the secondary election at the Sinpo Shipyard on the 24th of last month was moved to the side of the submarine launch facility, which was unusual. At the time, 38 North analyzed that “it could be a preparation for launching a new SLBM submarine in the near future.”

Reporter Lee Cheol-jae [email protected]


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